'Colleague Sexual Assault and Video Distribution' Namgyeong Sentenced to 3 Years and 6 Months in Prison

Court: "Crime committed against female doctor... Very serious offense"
Officer A denies sexual assault charges

A man named Nam-gyeong was sentenced to imprisonment for sexually assaulting a fellow police officer and secretly filming the act, then illegally distributing it on social media. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] A male police officer who sexually assaulted a fellow officer and secretly filmed the act to illegally distribute it on SNS has been sentenced to prison.

The Jeonju District Court's 11th Criminal Division (Chief Judge Kang Dongwon) on the 13th sentenced Police Officer A (26), affiliated with a police station in Jeonbuk, to 3 years and 6 months in prison on charges including violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (rape). Additionally, he was ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and was banned from employment at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities for 5 years.

The court explained, "The victim's testimony that she could not actively report the incident because she thought that if rumors spread while working at the same workplace as the defendant, organizational life would become difficult, was deemed more credible."

It continued, "The defendant, a police officer, committed this crime of rape against the will of the female victim while forgetting his status, which is of very poor nature," adding, "He caused the victim tremendous shame and mental suffering, and the victim is requesting a severe punishment for the defendant."

Furthermore, the court stated, "The defendant told colleagues about having sexual relations with the victim, making her appear immoral and seriously damaging social dignity, committing an act far more fatal than the rape itself," but also noted, "Considering that the defendant had no prior criminal record before this incident and still has an immature mental age," explaining the reasons for sentencing.

Officer A's side has denied the sexual assault charges. A's lawyer stated, "He admits to filming the victim with a camera and posting it in an SNS group chat," but argued, "There is no evidence other than the victim's testimony regarding the rape charge."

In his final statement, Officer A said, "I only feel sorry for the victim who must have felt an indescribable sense of betrayal upon learning about this (video distribution) through the news," but also claimed, "The relationship was consensual without threats or violence. The victim did not express resistance, such as telling me to 'go home.'"

Previously, Officer A was accused of sexually assaulting fellow officer B, who worked at the same police station, in August 2018.

He is also charged with damaging the victim's honor by secretly filming her lying in underwear with his phone and showing the footage to police colleagues while boasting, saying, "I slept with B."

The prosecution judged that Officer A defamed the victim by telling colleagues that the sexual encounter was consensual despite the sexual assault, and applied defamation charges as well.

Meanwhile, the case surfaced last October when rumors spread that a police officer in the Jeonbuk area had filmed a sexual encounter with a fellow officer and shared the video via SNS with other officers.

The police conducted a search and seizure at Officer A's residence and secured his phone, laptop, and vehicle black box for analysis, but failed to obtain evidence to prove the charges because Officer A changed his phone just before the investigation.

In particular, Officer A reportedly attempted to destroy evidence by asking his father to dispose of the phone believed to have been used in the crime in a reservoir, and claimed, "The phone broke, so I bought a new one."

Additionally, based on Officer A's further statements, the police conducted supplementary investigations and detected circumstances of the video being posted in a group chat with colleagues, but the video was deemed unlikely to be of the victim and was thus not prosecuted.

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