Rape case against Park takes new turn

Rape allegations against hallyu actor Park Si-hoo took a new turn Friday as police sent the alleged rape victim’s blood sample for a drug test.

The move is interpreted as a sign that police are searching for possible traces of drugs in the woman who claimed to have been raped by Park last Friday.

The Seoul Seobu Police Station sent the woman’s hair, urine and blood samples to the National Forensic Service to see if she had been drugged or was simply drunk at the time of the incident.

Last Friday, the woman formally accused Park of raping her after they drank together at a bar in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul. She claimed that Park raped her after she passed out.

Some local media speculated that police are testing the woman’s samples on suspicion that Park drugged her, while others point out fuzzy, conflicting details about what really happened that day.

The police said the test request was merely a routine procedure for rape cases, and urged the media not to read too much into it.

In a public statement issued on Tuesday, Park denied the allegation that he forcibly had sex with her. Instead, he said that they shared feelings and an attraction for each other.

Police said Park had been summoned for questioning on Feb. 24.

The 36-year-old actor is a late-bloomer who recently rose to stardom after appearing in hit TV dramas, such as “Iljimae” and “The Princess’ Man.” Park made his acting debut on the silver screen in “Confession of Murder” last year.

By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)


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