Kyung Hee University Professor Sentenced to 4 Years for Sexual Assault of Graduate Student Disciple... "Exploited Incapacitated State"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] A private university professor who sexually assaulted a graduate student after drinking together was sentenced to prison.

The Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Andongbeom) sentenced Lee Mo (61), a professor at Kyung Hee University, to 4 years in prison and ordered him to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program on the 27th. Lee was tried on charges of quasi-rape and sexual assault.

The court stated, "It is sufficiently recognized that the victim was intoxicated and unable to make normal judgments and was in a state of helplessness at the time of the incident," and "Considering the DNA analysis results and other evidence, the quasi-rape charges are all acknowledged as guilty." Regarding the sexual assault charges, the court said, "The testimonies of witnesses who heard about the victimization, the statements, and the victim's complaint cannot be used as evidence because the victim left for China and did not respond to contact or appear in court," and "This part of the indictment falls under the case of no proof of crime," thus acquitting him.

Lee was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting graduate student A, whom he supervised, after drinking with A and others in November 2019, and taking A, who lost consciousness, to a hotel in Mapo-gu, Seoul.

The court explained the sentencing reason, saying, "The defendant, who was the victim's advisor and had a trusting relationship, took advantage of the victim being heavily intoxicated and unable to resist, which is a serious offense," and "The defendant shifted the responsibility onto the victim and showed no remorse, making severe punishment inevitable."

Lee's side had applied for bail in June last year, requesting to be tried without detention, but the bail application was dismissed as he was re-arrested after the quasi-rape charge was recognized as guilty on this day.

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