Former Lawmaker Kim Byung-kwan Accused of Forced Same-Sex Molestation Receives Suspended Prison Sentence in First Trial

Former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Byung-kwan, who was prosecuted on charges of forcibly molesting a male, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 8th, Judge Jeong Yeon-ju of the Criminal Division 6 at the Suwon District Court Seongnam Branch sentenced former lawmaker Kim, who was indicted on charges of forcible molestation, to 10 months in prison with a 2-year suspension. In addition, he was ordered to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program.

Former lawmaker Kim was indicted last October on charges of inappropriate physical contact, including forcibly kissing Mr. A, a male who was dining with him at a restaurant in Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, his electoral district, at the end of 2019 during his term as a member of the National Assembly. Mr. A filed a complaint against former lawmaker Kim with the police in December 2021.

Kim, who served as a member of the 20th National Assembly representing Seongnam Bundang-gap, ran again in the same district in the 21st general election but lost to Kim Eun-hye, the candidate from the People Power Party. In June last year, he ran again in the by-election for the Bundang-gap National Assembly seat, which became vacant due to Kim’s candidacy for governor of Gyeonggi Province, but was defeated by Ahn Cheol-soo, the People Power Party candidate.

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