'Sexual Assault Allegations' Fall Semester's Jeong Babi, Emotional Confession After No Charges: "Painful Months"

Autumn Break by Jung Babi. Photo by YourSummer

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Jeong Babi, a member of the band Ga-eul Banghak, who was accused of sexually assaulting and illegally filming his ex-girlfriend, has expressed his feelings after being cleared by the prosecution.

According to his agency Your Summer on the 15th, the prosecution decided not to indict Jeong Babi, who was booked on charges of violating the Sexual Violence Crime Punishment Act (filming using a camera, etc.) and causing injury by rape, at the end of last month, citing "no charges."

On the same day, Jeong Babi posted on his blog, "As I have claimed from the beginning, the prosecution recently concluded that there is no charge regarding all the accusations," adding, "I sincerely cooperated with the investigation and calmly explained my grievances. The investigative agency secured and reviewed various materials such as KakaoTalk messages from that time."

He wrote, "I have spent an indescribably painful time over the past few months," and added, "What was hardest to endure was the fact that many people were hurt due to the initial media reports that were not accurately confirmed."

He continued, "There are endless things I want to say, but I send them between the lines. I am grateful to my family, relatives, and fans who offered their shoulders for my tattered heart to lean on."

Earlier, the police had sent the case to prosecution in November last year with a recommendation to indict for the violation of the Sexual Violence Crime Punishment Act, but with a recommendation not to indict due to insufficient evidence for the charge of causing injury by rape.

Jeong was investigated once on suspicion of illegally filming and sexually assaulting A, a 20-year-old aspiring singer he was dating.

The police began investigating after receiving a complaint filed by A’s family in May last year. It was reported that A disclosed the victimization to those around her and tragically took her own life in April last year.

The police searched Jeong’s residence and examined related evidence using digital forensic techniques.

In November last year, while under police investigation, Jeong posted a message denying the charges, stating, "Soon, all misunderstandings and falsehoods will be cleared, and the truth of the case and my grievances will be clearly revealed."