Navy Officer Accused of Sexually Assaulting Colleague Faces Gwangju's First Jury Trial

Some Proceedings Held Behind Closed Doors at Gwangju District Court
Jury Verdict Is Advisory... First Case of the Year

An active-duty Navy officer will stand trial by jury on charges of sexually assaulting a fellow service member.

On August 25, the 12th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge Park Jaeseong) held a hearing for Navy officer A, who has been indicted on charges of forcible molestation of a military colleague. Officer A was brought to trial for allegedly committing the assault last year.

Due to concerns about secondary harm from disclosing the victim's identity, some parts of the proceedings, including the prosecution's opening statement, were held behind closed doors. The trial is being conducted as a jury trial at the request of Officer A.

The jury trial system allows ordinary citizens to participate as jurors (seven main jurors and one alternate) in criminal cases, and the jury's verdict is advisory. This is the first jury trial to be held at the Gwangju District Court this year.