Senior Prosecutor Accused of Sexual Harassment, Assigned as Acting Officer

The officer took annual leave and did not report to work after a 2-month suspension expired
Busan District Prosecutors' Office conducting investigation for 2 months

On the night of June 1, A, a current chief prosecutor at the Busan District Prosecutors' Office, was chasing a woman and reached out with both hands to touch the shoulder of a woman standing in front of a crosswalk. A was arrested on the spot by police who responded to the woman's report. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] On the night of the 1st, Busan District Prosecutors' Office's current chief prosecutor A was chasing a woman and reached out with both hands to touch the shoulder of a woman standing in front of a crosswalk. A was arrested on the spot by police who responded to the woman's report.

The chief prosecutor A of Busan District Prosecutors' Office, accused of forcibly molesting a woman on the street while intoxicated, was reassigned as acting prosecutor at Busan High Prosecutors' Office after a two-month suspension from duty.

According to Busan District Prosecutors' Office on the 12th, Chief Prosecutor A was appointed as acting prosecutor at Busan High Prosecutors' Office on the 6th.

Although the two-month suspension period imposed immediately after the incident has expired, this appears to be a measure taken considering the ongoing investigation. The Ministry of Justice plans to hold him accountable depending on the investigation results. However, Chief Prosecutor A is currently on annual leave and not attending work.

Earlier, on June 1st at around 11:20 p.m., Chief Prosecutor A is accused of placing his hand on the shoulder of a woman walking near Yangjeong Station on Busan Metro Line 1 and following her for about 700 meters.

The woman reported to the police when Chief Prosecutor A followed her into a hamburger shop in front of Busan City Hall Station, and A was caught by the police while trying to escape the scene.

The Busanjin Police Station, which investigated the case, sent the case to the prosecution on June 19th with a recommendation for indictment against Chief Prosecutor A. At that time, Busanjin Police Station stated, "After reviewing legal expert advice and investigation results, we decided to send the case without detention with a recommendation for indictment."

Busan District Prosecutors' Office has yet to make a final decision even though nearly two months have passed since receiving the case.