‘Sex Crimes by Abuse of Power’ Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison [Comprehensive]

Busan District Court: "Power-Based Sexual Violence Using Superior Position"

Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don avoiding questions related to the trial and entering the courtroom. Photo by Sanghyun Lee lsh2055@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, who was prosecuted for forcibly molesting a subordinate, was sentenced to three years in prison and taken into custody in court.

The 6th Criminal Division of the Busan District Court (Chief Judge Ryu Seung-woo) sentenced former Mayor Oh to three years in prison on the morning of the 29th on charges of forcible molestation and injury by forcible molestation.

He was also sentenced to complete a 30-hour sexual violence treatment program and a five-year employment restriction at facilities for children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities. The court immediately issued an arrest warrant for former Mayor Oh and detained him in court. Former Mayor Oh will be held at Busan Detention Center.

The court found him guilty of two counts of forcible molestation, one count of injury by forcible molestation, and one count of attempted forcible molestation.

The court acknowledged the charge of injury by forcible molestation, stating, “Even if it did not directly affect the degree of injury, the defendant cannot be exempt.”

It also stated, “The fact that the victim suffered secondary harm is largely due to the defendant being the Busan mayor, who held significant responsibility at the time of the injury by forcible molestation,” judging it as a sexual crime of power using a position overwhelmingly superior to the victim.

A representative of a women's organization that protected the victim said, “It is fortunate that a prison sentence was given, but since there was no agreement with the victim and former Mayor Oh does not sincerely reflect on his actions, we expected a sentence of more than seven years, so it is regrettable,” and announced plans to appeal.

Earlier, former Mayor Oh repeatedly said “I apologize again” to reporters as he attended the first trial sentencing hearing held at the Busan District Court on the morning of the 29th.

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