'Aide Sexual Assault' Suspect Jang Kyungtae Indicted Two Years After Incident

Quasi-indecent assault and violations of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, among other charges
Analyzed witness-recorded footage and secured call recordings and other evidence

Independent lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae has been indicted on charges of sexually assaulting a female lawmaker's aide and causing secondary harm.

Independent lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae leaves after visiting the public service office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Yonhap News.

The Women and Children Crimes Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, headed by Chief Prosecutor Lee Juhyeon, said on October 30 that it had indicted Jang without detention on charges including quasi-indecent assault and violating confidentiality requirements under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. The indictment came two years after the incident.

Jang was indicted without detention on suspicion of inappropriate physical contact with an aide from another lawmaker's office, identified as A, at a restaurant in Yeouido in October 2024. He is also accused of causing secondary harm by partially revealing A's identity during a question-and-answer session with reporters.

Jang has denied the sexual assault charge, filed a countersuit against A on charges including false accusation, and requested that a police investigation review committee be convened. However, both the committee and the police concluded that the sexual assault charge could be applied to Jang.

The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office took over the case from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on April 6 and conducted a supplementary investigation. It questioned people involved in the case based on police investigation records and analyzed video footage recorded by a witness at the scene. It also obtained additional evidence, including recordings of phone calls and KakaoTalk conversations related to the case.

In June, the prosecutors' office continued its investigation, including by questioning A's partner as a witness. On October 20, it also interviewed Jang as part of its deliberations on whether to indict him.

An official from the prosecutors' office said, "We will do our utmost to ensure the prosecution of the case and protect the victim, and will continue to respond firmly to crimes against vulnerable members of society, including sexual violence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.