Singer Kim Gun-mo being interviewed by the press after completing an investigation at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on the 15th / Photo by SBS 'Bonkyeok Yeon-e Hanbam' broadcast screen capture
[Asia Economy Reporters Suwan Kim and Intern Sungyeol Kim] Singer Kim Gun-mo claimed that he has never met the sexual assault victim who sued him. He also denied wearing the Batman T-shirt that the victim mentioned on the day he went to the entertainment venue.
On the afternoon of the 22nd, SBS's "Bon-gyeok Yeon-e Hanbam" (Hanbam) reported on the recent controversy surrounding Kim Gun-mo's sexual scandal. The broadcast showed Kim Gun-mo appearing at the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul on the 15th.
Previously, on December 6 last year, the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute (Gaseyeon) claimed that Ms. A, who worked at an entertainment bar in August 2016, was sexually assaulted by Kim Gun-mo.
Subsequently, on the 9th of the same month, Ms. A filed a complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office through lawyer Kang Yong-seok and others, and the Gangnam Police Station is conducting an investigation. In response, Kim Gun-mo sued Ms. A at the Gangnam Police Station for defamation and false accusation.
Hanbam reported, "Kim Gun-mo was silent in response to reporters' questions immediately after his appearance, but after the police investigation ended, he gave a statement as if prepared in advance."
Kim Gun-mo said, "I sincerely apologize to the public for causing concern. I answered sincerely at the police station and hope the truth will be revealed as soon as possible. If further investigation is needed, I am willing to come again for questioning."
Hanbam then conveyed what Kim Gun-mo stated during the police investigation.
According to Hanbam, Kim Gun-mo admitted to going to the entertainment venue at the time but denied the sexual assault charges and claimed he never met the complainant Ms. A at the bar.
Kim Gun-mo reportedly did not sit with Ms. A at the entertainment venue and submitted a receipt from a bar where 1 million won was spent. His side claimed, "If he had been drinking alone with a female hostess at the entertainment venue, the bill would have been higher than this."
Additionally, Kim Gun-mo submitted CCTV footage from near the entertainment venue as evidence, stating that he was not wearing the Batman T-shirt mentioned by Ms. A.
A legal expert appearing on the broadcast explained, "In cases of sexual crimes, since they occur in private places and some time has passed, it is often impossible to secure evidence other than the victim's testimony. Ultimately, the dispute centers on whether the victim's testimony is true, and from Kim Gun-mo's side, they have no choice but to try to prove that the claim itself is not true."
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