[Allkpop] Hara's ex-boyfriend Choi Jong Bum receives sentence & Hara's legal reps respond

[Whisky23]

Hara's ex-boyfriend Choi Jong Bum received his official sentence from the Seoul Central District Court on August 29, and her legal representatives have responded.

Prosecution previously requested a 3-year prison sentence for Choi Jong Bum on the charges of physical assault, intimidation, blackmail, and more, and at the trial today, he was officially found guilty of most of the crimes and received 1 year and 6 months suspended for 3 years, which means he will be on probation but receive no jail time. Though he was convicted for destruction of property, physical assault, intimidation, and blackmail, he was found innocent of any sexual assault or crimes related to the sex tape he and Hara filmed.

The court stated, "The accused is claiming there was no intention to sexually shame with the photo shoot. When you see the relationship between the victim and the defendant, they were living together starting from July of 2018, and he took photos of Hara in the spa on the first day of a vacation together." On the sex tape allegedly used to blackmail Hara, the court commented, "The sex tape was filmed by Hara, and Choi Jong Bum did not make financial or sexual requests with the footage. He's also never spread or reported the footage."

Hara's legal reps responded they plan to appeal the sentence, stating, "It is not a just assessment of the case to acknowledge guilt and give a suspended sentence. If we want to eradicate criminal activities like the ones committed by Choi Jong Bum in our society, we need stronger punishment. We hope Choi Jong Bum will receive a deserving punishment in a review by an appellate court on an appeal."

Source

So, after all that - the cctv videos, the evidence, etc., the guy gets away for a suspended sentence and no actual jail time? What do you actually have to do in SK for a guy to actually end up in jail? I know I shouldn't have any expectations of justice ever being served there, considering all the high profile cases that's been reported on in SK. But this kind of news is yet more example of something very very wrong with SK and its criminal justice system. I'm glad that Hara and her legal team are appealing for a more harsher sentence, but I'm not holding my breath. I-

"F*cking Korean law, this is why I love it." - Seungri

 

[Danee]

HOnestly he got more then I expected (while seeing recent cases in news). -_- Honestly I wouldnt want to raise daughter in SK. It seriously isnt good place to live as a girl.

 

[fullofjoy]

That's all he got?

 

[Whisky23]

That's all he got?

So far. We'll see what the appeals court decide.

 

[UMJI MOODS]

I dislike the Korean "justice" system so much.

 

[Grape Soda]

Seems like everytime they always get probation
Do you care about your women SK?

 

[Whisky23]

The most recent case of a celeb getting jail time is Son Seung Won - got caught DUI twice, the first incident involving a hit-and-run involving another car, the second time while his license was suspended. The articles made it seem that he got jail time because he didn't appeal. God knows how many celebs have gotten away with multiple DUIs, all by expressing remorse. In SK, that apology letter to the courts really does miracles - it's like a get-out-of-jail free card. I wonder if there's a wad of cash that goes with those apology letters?

Meanwhile, a woman was jailed 10 months for taking a photo of a nude male art class model and posting it on the internet. Obviously, what she did was wrong, but how is assaulting and abusing a woman while sharing a sex tape (supposedly with no malicious intent) any less of a crime? smh

 

[Riri]

Seems like everytime they always get probation
Do you care about your women SK?

anything so their men can be free

 

[Whisky23]

anything so their men can be free

I've wondered if guys having to serve in the military adds to their special privilege in SK society? Not that SK society isn't male-dominated / misogynistic, but they do like to play up that male sacrifice story on a lot of shows.

 

[Riri]

I've wondered if guys having to serve in the military adds to their special privilege in SK society? Not that SK society isn't male-dominated / misogynistic, but they do like to play up that male sacrifice story on a lot of shows.

i think so, it totally adds to the male-dominated society perspective

 

[vitaminplus]

Seungri was right fuck korean law

 

[emily]

Meanwhile, a woman was jailed 10 months for taking a photo of a nude male art class model and posting it on the internet. Obviously, what she did was wrong, but how is assaulting and abusing a woman while sharing a sex tape (supposedly with no malicious intent) any less of a crime? smh

there's this concept of "mirroring" in korean feminism where women do the opposite of what men get away with to show the double standard and like... is there even a point when the difference in punishment is so severe? it feels hopeless

 

[Whisky23]

there's this concept of "mirroring" in korean feminism where women do the opposite of what men get away with to show the double standard and like... is there even a point when the difference in punishment is so severe? it feels hopeless

Well, the misogyny is deeply set in Korean conservative culture, and except for major urban areas like Seoul where you find progressive views, most of SK is still very traditional and very conservative. It's gonna take a while for any kind of change to take root in a substantive form. Unfortunately, the people in their 20s are supposed to be in the forefront of change, but are instead perpetuating the old behaviors. Like I said, it's gonna take a while.

 

[Bellamy]

 

[Whisky23]

At least Hara and her legal team will be appealing the decision. There's a more substantive article on Koreaboo:

Goo Hara's Legal Team Will Appeal For A Heavier Sentence For Her Ex-Boyfriend Who Got Probation

Goo Hara, whose assault case with her ex-boyfriend Choi Jong Bum shocked the nation, will be appealing the court's decision to put Choi on probation.

www.koreaboo.com

Just prepare your heart for quotes like this though:

"Choi Jong Bum did hurt Goo Hara in the process of their break-up and he also threatened to end her life as a celebrity by sharing their sex video. However, we understand he did not plan on committing these crimes. The sex video was not recorded against Goo Hara’s will. The video was never leaked or shared with the public. Thus the court concludes to give Choi Jong Bum a suspended sentence with a probation period."
— Judge Oh Deok Sik

I don't have anything nice to say about the logic of this judgement. Both the act of hurting her and threatening to share the video is a criminal offense that will get you locked up in most other places.