By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
A U.S. airman arrested on suspicion of raping a 19-year-old Korean girl was released without charges Thursday, since the sexual relationship was by mutual consent, police said.
According to Kangseo Police Station in Seoul, the Korean female had sex with the U.S. national several times before the incident and she even exchanged text messages after the accusations went public Wednesday.
Police said the female confessed during questioning that she had agreed to having intercourse with the U.S. soldier. The Korean lied that the serviceman had sexually assaulted her because of questioning by her mother over suspicious behavior, police said.
According to police, she suddenly collapsed and was hospitalized.
The police and U.S. Forces Korea officials announced Thursday that a U.S. airman was arrested early Wednesday on charges of raping the Korean woman. They said the two communicated with each other through the Internet, saying they met near Incheon Tuesday and went to a Seoul motel.