A man in his 30s, surnamed Park, who appeared on the TV entertainment program "I Am Solo" and was charged with raping a woman in her 20s, received a suspended prison sentence in his appeal trial as well.
The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 14-1 (Senior Judges Lee Hyung-geun, Lee Hyun-woo, and Jeong Kyung-geun) on Wednesday dismissed Park's appeal on charges of quasi-rape and upheld the first trial's sentence of one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years. Prosecutors had appealed, arguing that the first trial's sentence was too lenient, but the appellate court did not accept the argument.
Park was indicted on charges of raping a woman in her 20s at a parking lot in Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, at around 3:30 a.m. on June 21 last year. The first trial court sentenced Park to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, and ordered him to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment classes and barred him from employment at institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled for five years.
The first trial court noted, "Park appears to have engaged in sexual intercourse despite the heavily intoxicated victim showing refusal by pushing him away," adding, "The victim appears to have suffered considerable psychological shock and was also injured in the process of resisting."
The first trial cited as reasons for the sentence that "Park has admitted to the crime and shown a repentant attitude, and the victim has reached a settlement and does not wish for punishment," adding, "He appears to have had an opportunity for self-reflection during three months of detention."
Meanwhile, Park had appeared on ENA and SBS Plus entertainment programs "I Am Solo" and "I Am Solo, And Love Continues After That."
