Jeong Bong-ju Found Not Guilty Again in Appeal Trial for 'False Accusation of Sexual Harassment Allegations'

Former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju is attending the second trial sentencing for the false accusation charge regarding the 'sexual harassment allegation rebuttal' held at the Seoul Central District Court on the afternoon of the 27th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju, who was prosecuted on charges including false accusation after denying as false an internet media article reporting allegations of sexual harassment against him, was acquitted in the second trial.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6 (Presiding Judge Oh Seok-jun) acquitted former lawmaker Jeong, who was indicted on charges of false accusation and defamation, on the 27th.

In March 2018, when a media outlet reported that "former lawmaker Jeong sexually harassed aspiring journalist A at a hotel in 2011," Jeong held a press conference to deny it as 'fake news.' However, he reversed his position after records showed card usage at the hotel on the same day.

The prosecution viewed that Jeong damaged the reputation of the journalist who reported the allegations and spread false information to win the Seoul mayoral election, and brought the case to trial. They also applied false accusation charges regarding Jeong’s lawsuits against two journalists.

The first trial court acquitted him in October 2019, stating, "There is insufficient evidence to recognize the sexual harassment, and the media report appears to have intended to cause Jeong’s defeat."

The prosecution appealed this ruling and, at the previous appellate trial sentencing hearing, requested 10 months imprisonment for false accusation and a fine of 2 million won each for violations of the Public Official Election Act and defamation.

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