Male participant from dating reality show gets suspended sentence in second sexual assualt trial

A male participant of  the dating reality show “I am Solo” (2021-) received a suspended prison sentence in his second trial on charges of sexual assault.

Surnamed Park, he was indicted and detained in July last year on charges of sexually assaulting a woman who was intoxicated in a parking lot in Mapo District, western Seoul, in June the same year.

The Seoul High Court sentenced Park to one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years, on charges of quasi-rape, upholding the lower court’s ruling.

The lower court previously found Park guilty but handed down a suspended sentence in September last year. It cited his admission of the crime and remorse, as well as a settlement reached with the victim, who did not want him punished.

Prosecutors, however, appealed the ruling, arguing that the sentence was too lenient.

“Considering that Park is remorseful, has no prior criminal record and reached a settlement with the victim, who does not want punishment, it is difficult to conclude that the lower court’s sentence exceeded the reasonable bounds of judicial discretion, despite the serious nature of the crime,” the appellate court said.

The court also ordered Park to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment education and banned him from working at institutions related to children, adolescents and people with disabilities for five years.

Park appeared on the SBS Plus and ENA reality dating shows “I am Solo” as well as its spinoff “I’m Solo, Love goes on” (2022-).

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY JUNG SI-NAE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]