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Comedian faces prosecution investigation over attempted rape

July 21, 2016

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) — An attempted rape case involving a local comedian has been sent to the state prosecution for further investigation, police said Thursday.

Yoo Sang-moo, 36, is accused of attempting to rape a woman, whose identity was withheld, at a motel in southern Seoul in May after they drank together at a local bar, the Gangnam Police Station said, wrapping up a two-month investigation.

The woman in her 20s filed a report with the police at the scene of the alleged crime that Yoo had attempted to rape her. However, she then dropped the charges, before again re-filing the report later that same day, according to the investigation team.

Yoo has been claiming that the victim is his girlfriend, but police determined they had just met through social media three or four days before the incident took place.

Police said the conclusion was reached based on a medical certificate submitted by the victim and statements made by Yoo and the woman, as well as statements from her older sister and Yoo’s friend, who were also at the bar before the two left for the motel.

Police said Yoo has firmly denied the allegations, claiming that the woman consented to the sexual encounter.

Yoo’s agency KOEN immediately released a statement and said it cannot accept the investigation result. It expressed hope that the truth will be revealed following a more thorough investigation by the prosecutor’s office.

Comedian Yoo Sang-moo answers questions raised by reporters’ before entering the Gangnam Police Station in southern Seoul to give testimony over allegations of attempted sexual assault on May 31, 2016. Police said on July 21 that they concluded that he did attempt to rape a woman in her 20s.

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