Korean Dating Show Contestant Sentenced To Prison For Sexual Assault

A male contestant from the dating reality show I Am Solo has received a suspended prison sentence in his sexual assault case, even after appeal. According to reports, the Seoul High Court dismissed the prosecution’s appeal on May 7 and upheld the original sentence against a man in his 30s identified as Mr. Park.

Park was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years, on charges of quasi-rape. He was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in her 20s around 3:30 a.m. in June last year at a parking lot in Seoul’s Mapo district.

The court stated that although the victim showed refusal by pushing Park away, he proceeded with the assault while she was heavily intoxicated. The first trial court previously ruled that the nature of the crime was serious considering the circumstances and methods involved.

In addition to the suspended sentence, Park was ordered to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment education and banned for five years from working at institutions involving children, teenagers, or disabled individuals.

Prosecutors appealed the original sentence, arguing it was too lenient, but the appeals court rejected the request and maintained the ruling.

Park first became known after appearing on season 25 of I Am Solo in March last year. He later also appeared on the spin-off show I Am Solo, Love Continues Afterwards.

Following news of the case, Park switched his social media accounts to private, while the production team apologized to viewers and edited or removed his appearances from the program.