Police investigate actor Yoo Ah-in for alleged sexual assault of 30-year-old man

Social Affairs

Published: 26 Jul. 2024, 11:37

Police investigate actor Yoo Ah-in for alleged sexual assault of 30-year-old man

Actor Yoo Ah-in attends his final trial for drug charges at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

A 30-year-old man has filed a complaint against actor Yoo Ah-in, alleging sexual assault, police said Friday.

The Yongsan Police Precinct is investigating 38-year-old Yoo in connection with the accusation that he raped the complainant while he was asleep at a studio apartment in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on July 14.

Under current law, same-sex rape cases fall under the category of imitative rape, which is punishable by imprisonment for a minimum of two years.

The apartment in question was not owned by either party and other men were present at the scene, according to police.

A police official said that they have not yet contacted Yoo but will summon him for questioning soon.

Yoo's lawyer, Bang Jung-hyun, denied the allegations, asserting that the contents of the complaint are “not true” and urging the public to avoid unnecessary speculation about Yoo’s personal life.

Police are also considering the possibility that Yoo may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the alleged incident. The complainant, who was questioned on Thursday, tested negative for drugs in a preliminary test.

Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, is already facing trial for illegal use of propofol, a medical anesthetic, administered 181 times between September 2020 and March 2022. He is also accused of illegally prescribing and purchasing over 1,100 tablets of two types of sleeping pills under other people's names on 44 occasions between May 2021 and August 2022.

Additionally, Yoo faces charges related to smoking marijuana in the United States in January 2023 with an acquaintance named Choi and allegedly encouraging others to use the drug.

On Wednesday, prosecutors demanded a four-year prison sentence for Yoo, along with a fine of 2 million won ($1,440) and restitution of 1.54 million won.

BY KIM JI-HYE, WOO JI-WON [woo.jiwon@joongang.co.kr]