"In a Daughter-like Heart"... A Man in His 50s Forcedly Molested a Friend's Daughter in Front of the Friend

"Excited" "Touch me" remarks
Sexual harassment of a convenience store customer met for the first time
Court: "Doubtful if the defendant is remorseful"

Jeju District Court. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A man in his 50s who forcibly molested a teenage minor in front of the victim's father was sentenced to prison.

The perpetrator, Mr. A (50), responded to the court's question about the reason for the crime by saying, "I felt like she was my daughter..." which drew jeers from various parts of the courtroom.

The Jeju District Court Criminal Division 2 announced on the 7th that it sentenced Mr. A, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse (forcible molestation) and theft, to two years in prison.

He was also ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and was banned from employment at child and youth-related institutions and welfare facilities for the disabled for five years.

Earlier, in September of last year, Mr. A traveled to Jeju Island with Mr. C, whom he knew, and C's teenage daughter, Ms. B.

Late at night, when Ms. C's father was away, Mr. A's crime began.

Mr. A told Ms. B, "If you don't follow me, I'll kill you," and forcibly hugged her.

He took Ms. B to a bar and repeatedly said, "I'm excited," and "Touch me," while touching several parts of the victim's body.

Mr. A also forcibly made the victim drink alcohol.

Mr. A's sexual molestation continued even in front of Mr. C, who is both an acquaintance and the victim's father. Eventually, Mr. A argued with Mr. C and continued the molestation despite Mr. C's attempts to stop him.

When things did not go his way, Mr. A threw and broke a bottle and a glass and damaged the bar's display cabinet, according to the investigation.

During the trial, Mr. A admitted to the prosecution's charges but said, "I think I acted excessively because I felt like she was my daughter."

Mr. A is also accused of forcibly pressing his private parts against the buttocks of a woman standing at the counter to pay for items at a convenience store in Jeju city around midnight on the 16th of the same month, a week before the incident (forcible molestation).

The court said, "The defendant treated the acquaintance's daughter as an object of sexual desire and molested her. The crime continued despite the victim's father's attempts to stop it, showing a very bad nature," and added, "It is doubtful whether the defendant is truly remorseful."

It continued, "The sudden molestation of a stranger at the convenience store seems to have caused considerable mental shock. The defendant consistently gave excuses that were hard for the investigative agency to accept and only admitted to the crime in this courtroom," explaining the sentencing reasons.

However, the court did not accept the prosecution's request for disclosure and notification of personal information. Regarding this, the court explained, "The defendant has no prior sexual offense record, and registering personal information and ordering treatment alone seem to have some effect in preventing recidivism."