Himchan under investigation for alleged sexual assault

Himchan [NEWS1]

Kim Him-chan, known as Himchan of former boy band B.A.P, is again under police investigation for alleged sexual assault, while currently on trial for the same charges pressed in July 2018.

According to Yongsan Police Station on Thursday, the police recently received reports from two women claiming that Himchan groped them.

The women allege that on April 17, Himchan groped them while he was drunk at a bar in Yongsan District, central Seoul. The two reported the incident to the police a few hours after it happened.

The women claim that they saw Himchan for the first time at the bar. While one woman was waiting for her dish, Himchan took her cellphone without consent, and when she protested, he allegedly wrapped his hands around her waist on the stairs outside. The other woman claims he groped her chest.

Himchan is said to have partially admitted to physical touching but said he had no sexual intent as the incident took place in a public space.

Himchan is currently going through a second trial for a separate groping case from July 2018, when he allegedly assaulted a woman in her 20s at a pension in Namyangju, Gyeonggi. He received a prison sentence of 10 months at the first trial but was not detained. He made an appeal and was put on trial again. At his appeals trial on April 12, he admitted to the charges, which he had been denying up until that point.

The singer was also indicted without detention under charges of drunk driving in October 2020. The Seoul Gangnam Police Station stated that Himchan hit a guardrail while driving near Hakdong intersection in Dosan-daero in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. His blood alcohol level was high enough for police to revoke his driver’s license.

Himchan debuted as a member of B.A.P in 2012 with “Warrior,” but the group disbanded in February 2019.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]