Police: "Insufficient Evidence, No Charges Filed" in Criminal Complaint
Court Orders Two Accusers to Pay a Total of 100 Million Won
Ki Sungyong, who joined Pohang Steelers, is sharing his thoughts on joining the team at the media day event held on the 4th at Pohang Steelers Songra Clubhouse in Pohang, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News
Former national football team member and current Pohang Steelers forward Ki Sungyong has partially won a damages lawsuit in the first trial against an elementary school junior who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by him.
On July 9, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Agreement Division 14 (Presiding Judge Jeong Hajung) announced that it had ruled partially in favor of the plaintiff in the damages lawsuit filed by Ki Sungyong, who sought 500 million won in compensation from juniors A and B.
This case began its first hearing in March 2022, but the proceedings were postponed until the outcome of the criminal case filed by Ki Sungyong against A and others. The trial resumed in January last year. In February 2021, A and B claimed that they were sexually assaulted by Ki Sungyong and other seniors during their time with the soccer team at an elementary school in Jeonnam between January and June 2000. Although they did not explicitly mention Ki Sungyong's name, the content allowed for the inference that he was the perpetrator.
Ki Sungyong's side maintained his innocence and simultaneously filed both a criminal complaint and a civil damages lawsuit seeking 500 million won against the individuals who raised the sexual assault allegations.
The Seocho Police Station in Seoul, which investigated the criminal case, cleared A and B of charges in August 2023, citing insufficient evidence. The police also stated that there was insufficient evidence regarding the sexual assault allegations against Ki Sungyong.
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