Prosecutors Demand 5-Year Prison Sentence for Former Lawmaker Park Wan-joo Over Aide Sexual Harassment and Dismissal Attempt

Prosecution: "Crime Committed Using Position and Trust"
Park Wan-joo: "No Sexual Harassment Whatsoever"

Former Assemblyman Park Wan-joo Photo by Yonhap News

The prosecution has requested a 5-year prison sentence for former lawmaker Park Wanju, who has been indicted on charges including sexual assault of an aide.

On the 30th, at the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 14 (Presiding Judge Jang Seonghun), during the sentencing hearing for Park’s charges of forced sexual assault causing injury, the prosecution stated, "We ask the court to sentence the defendant to 5 years in prison."

The prosecution explained the reasons for sentencing, saying, "Please consider that the defendant committed the crime against a vulnerable victim who was effectively a special-appointed public official, that the crime was committed by exploiting a personal trust relationship, and that secondary damage occurred due to defamation."

In his closing argument, Park’s defense attorney said, "The defendant was a promising ruling party policy committee chairman, but due to this case, he has effectively lost all social trust and has been branded as a sex offender," and requested, "We ask the court to carefully examine the case so that there is no injustice."

In his final statement, Park also claimed innocence, saying, "There was absolutely no forced sexual assault at the karaoke room as alleged by the accuser," and added, "Please consider that the testimony of the aide who accompanied us and did not drink a single glass of alcohol contradicts the accuser’s claims."

The victim, Ms. A, was also given the opportunity to speak directly, tearfully appealing, "I may never be able to live as I did before, but I want to live my life again," and pleaded, "Please severely punish the defendant who not only sexually assaulted me and denied it for a long time but also shamelessly committed secondary harm."

Park is accused of forcibly sexually assaulting aide Ms. A on December 9, 2021, at a karaoke bar and a nearby underground parking lot in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, causing post-traumatic stress disorder (charges of forced sexual assault causing injury).