Top court confirms jail term for opera singer for sexually abusing teen pupil

By Bahk Eun-ji

The Supreme Court upheld a high court decision, Monday, to sentence a renowned opera singer to six years in jail for sexually abusing his teen pupil.

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The top court also ordered the singer, surnamed Kwon, 54, to undergo 40 hours of education about sexual violence.

Kwon was famous for his TV presence as a mentor for young students who dreamt of being opera singers.

After meeting the 17-year-old on the TV program, Kwon offered him private lessons. The boy stayed at Kwon's home in Seoul for lessons from March to December in 2014, and Kwon sexually assaulted him over three times between October and November. Kwon was also alleged to have sexually harassed the student's friend and younger brother who visited.

The singer was indicted and arrested in December 2017 as the student's father reported him to the police after belatedly learning about the abuse.

A local court initially handed down a seven-year prison sentence with 120 hours of education, saying Kwon used his powerful status and awareness that the boy ― whose family was not well off enough to pay for quality lessons ― desperately needed his help to become a successful opera singer.

However, the high court reduced the sentence to six years in prison and 40 hours of education, not recognizing the sexual harassment allegation involving the student's brother as his testimony was inconsistent.