Yoo Youngjae Sentenced to Two Years and Six Months in Prison for Forcible Molestation of Sunwoo Eun-sook's Older Sister

Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal
Finalizes Prison Sentence

Yoo Youngjae (61), a broadcaster, has received a finalized prison sentence after being tried on charges of forcibly molesting the older sister of actress Sunwoo Eun-sook.

Broadcaster-turned-TV personality Yoo Youngjae, actress Sunwoo Eun-sook. Gyeongin Broadcasting, Starit Entertainment

On September 25, the Third Division of the Supreme Court (Presiding Justice Oh Seokjun) upheld the lower court's verdict, dismissing Yoo's appeal and confirming his sentence of two years and six months in prison for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (forcible molestation by a relative).

Yoo was brought to trial on charges of forcibly molesting Sunwoo Eun-sook's older sister, who was his wife at the time, on five occasions between March and October 2023.

Yoo married Sunwoo Eun-sook in 2022, but they divorced in April last year.

Earlier, in January of this year, the court of first instance sentenced Yoo to two years and six months in prison and immediately took him into custody. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and imposed a five-year employment restriction at institutions related to children, adolescents, and people with disabilities.

The appellate court handed down the same sentence in July. The appellate panel stated, "The defendant is reflecting on his actions and has made efforts to compensate the victim, including depositing a large sum of money for her benefit on two occasions." However, the court also noted, "The victim appears to have concealed the incident and endured the defendant's molestation out of concern that it might negatively affect her sister's marriage and cause emotional harm. She has expressed that she does not intend to accept the compensation and is demanding a severe punishment."

Yoo appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, ruling that the grounds for appeal were invalid.