Park Yoo-chun faces sex trade, fraud charges

Published : Jul 15, 2016 - 14:08 Updated : Jul 15, 2016 - 16:53

Police on Friday charged actor-singer Park Yoo-chun with solicitation of prostitution and fraud, while clearing him of sexual assault allegations.

Police said it is “difficult to prove there was use of force” in the four sexual assault complaints brought against Park last month.

However, Park will be charged with solicitation of prostitution and fraud concerning one of the four women who filed charges against him. The woman will also be charged with prostitution.

Meanwhile, the second of the four women who filed complaints against Park for sexual assault will be charged with making false claims.

Regarding the fraud and solicitation of prostitution charges, police said they discovered during the course of their investigation that the first woman of the four women who filed sexual assault complaints had sent a text message to an acquaintance stating she “had sexual relations with Park after receiving a promise of payment.” Park, however, did not pay her, police found.

K-pop group JYJ member Park Yoo-chun arrives at Gangnam Police Office for questioning on allegations of sexual assault on June 30. (Yonhap)

The promise of monetary compensation prior to sexual relations, even if no monetary transaction takes place afterwards, constitutes prostitution, according to police.

Reneging on a promise of payment constitutes fraud, according to a prior Supreme Court ruling, police added.

The cases of Park and the two women in question will be forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office.

In a statement released immediately after the police announcement, Park’s management agency C-Jes Entertainment said there is “no truth” to the charges of solicitation of prostitution.

Last month, a total of four women filed complaints against the 30-year-old entertainer alleging he sexually assaulted them.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)