Arrest warrant out for SNU professor

The case involving a Seoul National University (SNU) professor accused of sexual assaulting more than 20 female students took a significant turn on Tuesday when prosecutors announced an arrest warrant had been filed for the 54-year-old.

The Seoul Northern Prosecutors’ Office, which has been investigating the case since July, said it believes the mathematical sciences professor committed the “serious crime” of molesting multiple women on several occasions and added that the arrest warrant was filed out of fear he might flee.

The decision was reached after prosecutors summoned several victims who claim the professor groped them on various occasions, the authorities said.

Tuesday’s judgment came five days after the prestigious school announced it would approve the suspect’s voluntary resignation letter and end its investigation into the allegations.

The probe was being led by the campus human rights center.

But after facing a backlash from local media and women’s rights activists SNU announced Monday it would ditch its previous plans to let the professor step down and vowed to thoroughly investigate the accusations.

The allegations of sexual assault came to light earlier this year when a group of female SNU students formed the coalition “Victim X” and claimed that Kim had invited them for dinner and groped them.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [selee@joongang.co.kr]