Court upholds 10-month sentence for ex-boy band member Kim Him-chan

Kim Him-chan, a former member of the boy band B.A.P, appears for his trial on charges of sexual harassment at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul [NEWS1]

An appeals court on Thursday upheld Kim Him-chan's 10-month prison sentence for sexual assault.

Kim Him-chan, known as Himchan from former boy band B.A.P, was found guilty of sexually assaulting and groping a woman back in July 2018.

He was initially sentenced to 10 months in prison in February 2022 and ordered to attend a 40-hour mandatory sexual harassment treatment program. Kim appealed the case, claiming that there were misunderstandings and that both sides had positive feelings for each other, which implied consent.

However, during the appeals trial, in an unexpected turn of events, the former singer admitted to the sexual harassment. The court, while acknowledging that Kim appeared to regret his offenses, said that the prison sentence was necessary considering the mental damage caused to the victim and the fact that the victim sought a severe punishment.

The court added that imprisonment at a correctional institution is needed for the resocialization of the offender.

Kim is facing separate allegations of sexual harassment. He is accused of groping two females at a bar in Yongsan District, central Seoul, in April 2022.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]