Prosecutors Demand 2-Year Prison Sentence for Professor Hailji on Charges of Sexual Harassment of Student

Professor Ha Il-ji. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The prosecution has requested a prison sentence for Ha Il-ji (real name Lim Jong-ju), a novelist and poet as well as a professor at Dongduk Women's University, who has been tried on charges of sexually assaulting a student.

At the sentencing hearing for Professor Ha's forcible molestation case held on the 13th under the presiding of Judge Lee Mi-kyung of the Seoul Northern District Court Criminal Division 9, the prosecution asked the court to sentence Professor Ha to two years in prison. They also requested an 80-hour sexual violence treatment program, disclosure of personal information, and employment restrictions.

Professor Ha is accused of making non-consensual physical contact, including kissing student A on December 10, 2015. In March 2018, during a lecture, Professor Ha made remarks disparaging the #MeToo movement, which sparked controversy. The next day, student A posted online, revealing that she had been sexually assaulted by Professor Ha. Subsequently, A filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, and following the commission's request, the prosecution launched an investigation and indicted Professor Ha.

The prosecution pointed out, "The defendant shows no remorse for the crime and makes statements to evade the situation each time," adding, "Regarding the reason for changing his statements, he claims it is because 'literary expression and general expression differ,' which is an unconvincing excuse."

Student A's lawyer stated, "As a secondary victimization from this forcible molestation case, the victim's life has changed drastically," adding, "The victim gave up her dream of becoming a writer and has spent half of her twenties suffering daily due to the defendant's criminal acts, including self-harm, hospitalization, and medication treatment."

On the other hand, in his final statement, Professor Ha claimed, "Kissing a student is the warmest expression of affection a teacher can show a student," and "I did not feel any sexual desire toward the victim." He also added, "The country's media and women's organizations only trusted the victim's words and did not listen to mine at all," and "Whenever I tried to defend myself or make a counterargument, they accused me of secondary victimization."

The first trial verdict is scheduled for the 17th of next month.

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