Male fashion designer indicted for allegedly sexually molesting man

Male fashion designer Kim Young-se. Capture from Channel A

By Dong Sun-hwa

Male fashion designer Kim Young-se was indicted without detention in December for allegedly sexually assaulting a man, a legal source said on Monday.

Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office indicted the designer, 64, for alleged indecent assault on a man in his 30s, who visited Kim's house in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, in August for an interview for a chauffeur position. Kim touched the man's thigh with his hands, according to the prosecution.

The man filed a complaint with Seoul Gangnam Police Station in September, revealing an audio file with the voices of two males. One of them with Kim's voice says, “Please lie down here and hold my hands,” but the other refuses, saying, “Please do not make physical contact.” The prosecution found the man's statement and the file reliable.

The man is known to have undergone psychotherapy following the incident.

Kim, an open homosexual, reportedly claimed the two stayed about two meters from each other, therefore it was impossible to make body contact. He also insisted the man approached him on purpose as a means to extort money.

Kim, a first generation fashion designer in Korea, rose to fame after taking charge of several veteran singers' costumes.