60-Year-Old Professor Indicted for Sexually Harassing Student After Prosecutors Overturn Police Decision

A 60-year-old university professor has been sent to trial for sexually harassing a student he was teaching.
The Women and Children Crimes Investigation Department of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Ji-young) indicted the former professor of the Department of German Language and Literature at Seoul Women's University, identified by his surname Choi, without detention on June 25.
According to the investigation, Choi placed his arm around the shoulder of the victim, identified as A, and grabbed her hand, which was resting on her thigh, at a restaurant in early December 2022. He was also found to have hugged the victim by wrapping his arm around her waist at a department gathering at a bar in mid-March 2023.
The investigation began after the victim filed a complaint with the police in February of last year. However, five months later, the Seoul Nowon Police Station decided not to refer the case to the prosecution, stating that it was difficult to acknowledge the act of molestation based solely on the victim's statement.
Following the victim's objection, the police transferred the case to the prosecution in September of the same year, and the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office requested a supplementary investigation.
The prosecution ordered the police to secure all records related to the disciplinary action taken by Seoul Women's University, which had previously suspended Choi for three months in 2023 after receiving reports regarding the misconduct.
After reviewing the case following the supplementary investigation, the prosecution concluded that there was sufficient evidence to indict Choi. This decision was based on findings from the university's disciplinary records confirming that Choi had made inappropriate physical contact with multiple students on the day of the incident, as well as the determination that the victim had no reason to falsely accuse him.
Prosecutor Lee Hwi-so, who was in charge of this case, was previously recognized as a top investigator by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in April for resolving a case involving the gang rape and illegal filming of a minor.
In that case, four suspects were accused of gang-raping a teenager who had lost consciousness due to intoxication in 2021 and filming the act.
Although the police initially attempted to close the case without referral after accepting the suspects' claims that the victim had consented, Prosecutor Lee conducted a supplementary investigation, uncovered evidence that the suspects had coordinated their statements, and successfully brought all four individuals to trial.
(Photo: Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.