South Korean police drops sexual assault case against actor Yoo Ah-in
Trigger warning: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.
The sexual assault case against Korean actor Yoo Ah-in will not be forwarded to the prosecution due to insufficient evidence, Yongsan Police Station in Seoul said.
According to the Korean entertainment website Soompi, reports have indicated that local authorities also have "no plans for a reinvestigation."
It was on July 15 when a 30-year-old man (hereafter referred to as "A") accused Yoo of sexual assault on July 14 while the former was sleeping at an apartment in Seoul's Yongsan District.
Soompi reported that the apartment is not A's or Yoo's residence. It is also said that there were other men present at the time.
Under Korean laws, same-sex sexual assault is classified as quasi-rape.
The local police questioned "A" on July 25 and said that the latter had tested negative for drugs.
"We have not yet contacted the accused [Yoo Ah In] about the case," stated the police during that time.
They added, "We plan to call him in for questioning soon."
Meanwhile, Yoo's lawyer, Park Jung Hyun, denied the allegations, stating that the claims in the criminal complaint involving the Korean actor "are not true."
"Additionally, we ask that you refrain from unnecessary speculation regarding his personal life," he said.
In 2023, Yoo was brought to trial for illegal drug use. Investigation showed he tested positive for propofol, marijuana, cocaine, and ketamine.
In the hearing last July 24 of the same year, prosecutors requested his four-year prison sentence as well as a fine of 2 million won (around P80,000 to P90,000).
Yoo Ah-in, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, made his acting debut in the TV series Sharp back in 2004. He is best known for starring in movies Seoul Vibe (2022), Alive (2020), Default (2018), and Veteran (2015), as well as K-dramas Hellbound (2021) and Chicago Typewriter (2017), among others.
He has received numerous awards, including Actor of the Year at the Asia Artist Awards in 2021, Best Actor at the Asian Film Awards and Baek Sang Art Awards in the same year, and Best Actor at the Blue Dragon Awards in 2020.