20s Medical Student Given Probation for Sexual Assault of Girlfriend

/Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] A male medical student in his 20s who indiscriminately assaulted and then sexually assaulted his girlfriend was sentenced to probation.

The Jeonju District Court Criminal Division 1 announced on the 21st that it sentenced A (24), who was indicted on charges of rape, injury, violation of the Special Act on Traffic Accident Handling (injury), and violation of the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), to 2 years in prison with 3 years probation.

The court also ordered A to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and imposed a 3-year employment restriction at child and youth-related institutions and welfare facilities for the disabled.

The court stated, "The victim has testified very specifically and consistently about the details of each crime as well as the circumstances before and after the incident, which are difficult to describe without direct experience, both to the investigative authorities and in this court." It added, "Considering the victim’s demeanor, attitude, and nuances during testimony in court, it does not appear that the statements were fabricated."

It continued, "This case involves the defendant assaulting the victim to suppress resistance and then committing rape, and considering the circumstances, means, methods, and results of the crime, the nature of the offense is very serious." It also noted, "The defendant’s actions of hitting the victim’s face and strangling her shortly after the rape make the blameworthiness very high."

The court explained the sentencing rationale, saying, "Although the victim suffered significant mental and physical pain due to this crime, considering that the victim who reached a settlement does not want punishment, that the defendant has no prior record of sexual violence crimes, and that the defendant’s family earnestly pleaded for leniency, the sentence was determined comprehensively."

A, a fourth-year student at a medical school in Jeonbuk, was brought to trial on charges of assaulting and then sexually assaulting his girlfriend B around 2:30 a.m. on September 3, 2018, by repeatedly slapping her cheeks and strangling her.

Additionally, A was indicted for driving a BMW passenger car under the influence of alcohol around 9 a.m. on May 11 last year, colliding with a vehicle waiting at a traffic signal and causing injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment to the driver and passenger. At that time, A’s blood alcohol concentration was confirmed to be 0.068%, which is the level for license suspension.

During the trial, A denied the rape charges but admitted to the drunk driving charge.

A’s defense attorney argued, "The assault that occurred before the sexual intercourse was unrelated to the sexual act and cannot be considered an act that made the victim’s resistance impossible or significantly difficult as a means of rape."

They also claimed, "Even if the victim did not want to have sexual intercourse, it was impossible to know what the victim was thinking, and considering all circumstances, the defendant had no choice but to believe the victim consented to the sexual act."

However, the court judged that based on the victim’s testimony and evidence examined in court, it was established that the defendant assaulted the victim causing injury and committed sexual assault.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.