K-pop star Park questioned over alleged sexual assaults
K-pop star Park Yu-chun enters Gangnam Police Station in southern Seoul, Thursday, for questioning over allegations that he sexually assaulted four women. / Yonhap
By Kim Rahn
K-pop star Park Yu-chun has been summoned for questioning over allegations of sexual assault.
The member of boy band JYJ presented himself at Gangnam Police Station in southern Seoul, Thursday, 20 days after the first of four alleged victims filed a complaint against him.
Park, who is now serving his military duty at a local district office, arrived at the station at 6:30 p.m. after his duty hours were finished at 6 p.m.
“I’m sorry for having caused anxiety to many people. I’ll cooperate with the investigation,” Park told reporters before entering the police station, without further comment about the allegations.
The 30-year-old is accused of four rapes. Countering the alleged victims’ claims, Park also filed a complaint against one of them for false accusations and blackmail.
“He is the accused and the accuser in multiple suits,” an officer at the police station said. “We may need to question him several more times.”
Police said they would first focus on fact-checking the sexual assault allegations and then investigate the false accusation issue. They also collected Park’s DNA through mouth swab samples and will determine whether it matches that found on the underwear submitted as evidence by the first alleged victim.
Since June 10, four women have filed complaints against Park, claiming he raped them in the restrooms of bars or in his home.
The first woman dropped the suit several days later, saying the sexual intercourse was not coerced, but Park sued her for false accusations and blackmail. Park’s agency said that the woman, her boyfriend and her cousin, who is an alleged gang member, threatened the agency and sought 1 billion won in return for covering up the case.
In the meantime, Lee Ju-no, a former member of legendary boy band Seo Taiji and Boys, was also questioned at Yongsan Police Station in Seoul over allegations against him of sexual harassment.
Lee allegedly harassed two women at a club in Itaewon on Saturday, hugging them from behind and groping their breasts. He also allegedly slapped the club owner in the face while the staff was kicking him out.