Former Minister of Culture Kim Myung-gon, Accused of Sexual Assault, Receives Suspended Prison Sentence in Second Trial
by Lim Chulyoung
Published 16 Apr.2025 15:21(KST)
Indicted for Forcible Harassment of Subordinate at Work
Ruling Considers Settlement Efforts and Victim's Wishes... Both Appeals Dismissed
Former Minister of Culture and Tourism Kim Myung-gon, who was indicted on charges of sexual assault, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the second trial as well.
On the 16th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 2-1 (Presiding Judges Kwak Jeong-han, Kang Hee-seok, and Jo Eun-ah) sentenced former Minister Kim to 4 months in prison with a 1-year suspension, the same as in the first trial, and ordered him to attend 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures. Both the defendant's and the prosecution's appeals were dismissed.
On that day, the court stated, "Although the defendant deposited an additional 10 million won for the victim, the victim has expressed no intention to receive it," and added, "While it is recognized that the defendant made efforts to reach a settlement, the victim's wishes cannot be ignored, so the judgment is made comprehensively." Former Minister Kim had also deposited 20 million won during the first trial.
Previously, the first trial sentenced former Minister Kim to 4 months in prison with a 1-year suspension and ordered him to attend 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program. Both the prosecution and the defense appealed on the grounds of inappropriate sentencing. During the first trial's final hearing, the prosecution requested a 1-year prison sentence for former Minister Kim.
Former Minister Kim was indicted without detention in January last year on charges of making unwanted physical contact twice with a subordinate victim while conversing during his role as the musical director in May 2014.
Kim Myung-gon wrote the screenplay and played the lead role 'Yubong' in 'Seopyeonje (1993)', directed by Im Kwon-taek, for which he won the Best Actor award at the 1993 Blue Dragon Film Awards. He was appointed director of the National Theater of Korea in 2000 and served for six years, and he served as Minister of Culture and Tourism in 2006.
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