30s Pharmacist Threatened Live-in Woman with "I Will Upload the Video," Given 4 Years Probation

Assault, Drugs, and Prostitution Charges... "Crimes Are Diverse and of Serious Nature"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] A current pharmacist in his 30s was sentenced to probation after threatening his girlfriend by saying he would upload a sex video on the workplace website and committing special assault.

The Gwangju District Court 12th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Kim Hye-seon) on the 8th sentenced pharmacist Kim Mo (38), who was detained and indicted on charges including special assault and special injury, prostitution, and violation of the Narcotics Control Act, to 2 years and 6 months in prison with 4 years of probation.

He was also ordered to attend 80 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures and was restricted from employment at child and youth-related institutions and welfare facilities for the disabled for 5 years each.

Kim was prosecuted on charges of assaulting his girlfriend with tools and causing injury because she did not obey him.

On September 13 of last year, at the pharmacy where he worked, after making his then-girlfriend buy a hot dog and she did not return immediately, he verbally abused her saying "You will get beaten to death," poured coffee on her head, hit her head with a dustpan, and then threatened her with a kitchen knife.

He told his cohabiting girlfriend to come back home and then hit her dozens of times with a metal pipe and a metal phone holder, causing injuries requiring six weeks of treatment.

At around 10:30 p.m. the same day, he sent messages such as "Do you think I can't stab you?" along with photos of him holding a kitchen knife on his cellphone.

Kim also posted a message titled "A person who should not be in the hospital" on the workplace website, threatening to release videos containing sexual scenes.

In fact, he sent scenes showing his girlfriend’s face to her workplace colleagues and others via Instagram.

Between April and June of last year, he paid cash for prostitution three times with women he met through a chat application, and since August, he has been charged with repeatedly violating work-related purposes by smoking psychotropic drugs and marijuana.

Kim said, "I admit all charges and am reflecting on my actions. I am prepared to accept any punishment, but if leniency is granted, I will not forget the severity of the law and will live strictly within its bounds," adding, "Lastly, I apologize once again for the pain caused to the victim because of me."

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "The crimes themselves are diverse and numerous, so the nature of the offenses is very bad," but also considered "that the defendant is a first-time offender and that a smooth settlement was reached for the victim’s recovery."