Court finds ex-governor not guilty of rape

An Hee-jung, former South Chungcheong Province governor

By Kim Hyun-bin

A Seoul court has found former South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung not guilty of raping his former secretary.

In one of the highest-profile #MeToo cases here, the Seoul Western District Court said Tuesday there was insufficient evidence that An used his authority to have sexual relations with the plaintiff, Kim Ji-eun, against her will.

“The suspect was an influential politician, was touted as a potential presidential candidate, and, as governor, An had the power to dismiss and hire the victim, which can be seen that he had authority,” the court said. “However, there was no evidence he used that authority to have sexual relations with Kim.”

It said both are adults with intellect and sound judgment, there were no evidence An infringed on the victim's sexual freedom, and the only evidence was the victim's testimony.

In April, the 52-year-old politician was indicted for allegedly forcing sexual intercourse on his former secretary four times as well as molesting her on several occasions from mid-2017 to early this year in Seoul and during overseas business trips.

The court also pointed out that there was a lack of evidence of psychological damage which she claimed to have suffered.

“The following morning after the first sexual contact in Russia, Kim searched for a Korean restaurant that An would like. And after returning to Korea, she went to a beauty parlor, which An often visited, to get her hair done,” the court said. “The victim also continuously expressed admiration toward An not only in work-related situations but also when meeting acquaintances unrelated to work, which makes it difficult to accept the victim's testimony.”

In the previous hearing on July 27, prosecutors requested a four-year jail term for the former governor. An has been apologetic to the public over the scandal but denied all accusations against him. He stepped down as governor in March and the Democratic Party of Korea expelled him.

Following the ruling, An said he was ashamed that he had disappointed people. “I'll try to turn over a new leaf,” he told reporters.

But women's groups protested the ruling vehemently. “The ruling allowed people in power or high positions to abuse their power for sex,” said Bae Bok-ju, the head of a coalition of sex crime counseling centers.

She said this ruling would hurt the #MeToo movement. “This ruling will silence victims of sexual violence who may hesitate millions of times before reporting their cases.”

Kim has expressed her will to continue the legal fight, saying she will appeal to a high court.

“I will fight until the courts verify An Hee-jung's crimes,” she said in a statement shortly after the ruling.