Former Sejong University Professor Accused of Harassing Graduate Student Sentenced to 1 Year and 4 Months in First Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Kim Tae-hoon (55), a former professor of the Department of Film Arts at Sejong University and an actor, who was charged with sexually harassing a graduate student, was sentenced to prison and taken into custody in court.

On the 17th, Shin Jinhwa, presiding judge of the Criminal Division 6 at the Seoul Western District Court, sentenced Kim to 1 year and 4 months in prison. Kim was also ordered to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and was banned from working in welfare facilities related to children, adolescents, and the disabled for 5 years.

Kim was indicted without detention in December 2019 on charges of forcibly molesting a graduate student preparing a thesis on February 26, 2015, by touching the student's body without consent inside his car, which was being driven by a designated driver.

The court stated, "There are no contradictions or reasonable doubts in the victim's testimony, and the process of raising the issue is also sufficiently credible," and added, "All charges are recognized as guilty."

The court explained the key issues in detail for nearly an hour starting at 10 a.m. that day. The court said, "This case happened six years ago; the incident itself is simple, but there are many disputed points, and the defendant denies the criminal facts." It continued, "The content and severity of the forcible molestation are serious, but the series of secondary damages inflicted on the victim over about three years before sentencing are even more horrific."

In court, Kim appealed his innocence, saying, "As of 2018, I cannot remember events from three and a half years ago or even a month ago. When testimonies conflict, why is only the victim's testimony accepted?" He added, "I sincerely hope this decision will not be an error in the judge's life."

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