Busan Man Sentenced for Sexual Assault in Citizen Participation Trial

A 30‑year‑old man in Busan was convicted of sexually assaulting his wife's friend while she was asleep on a couch. The case was heard in a citizen‑participation trial, where a panel of seven jurors returned a 4‑3 guilty verdict. The court sentenced the defendant to two years and six months in prison, ordered him to complete a 40‑hour sexual‑violence treatment program, and imposed a three‑year ban on employment in child, youth, or disability services. He was not placed in custodial detention pending the sentence.

The court cited the victim’s testimony as “consistent and detailed, with no contradictions” and noted the lack of physical evidence or video footage. The prosecution had sought a two‑year term, but the court imposed a slightly harsher sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime and the victim’s suffering.