[Update]JYJ's Yoochun sued for sexually assaulting woman in bar bathroom

By Park Sae-jin Posted : June 14, 2016, 18:31 Updated : June 16, 2016, 14:24

[Photo by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@]



South Korean actor Yoochun, a JYJ member, has been sued for sexually assaulting a 24-year-old female employee in an adult entertainment bar. His agency called it "malicious blackmailing".

The woman has claimed that she was raped at 5am (2000 GMT) on June 4, at a bathroom located in one of the bar's private rooms. She reported to police a week later, handing in clothing she wore that night, including her underwear, as evidence. The evidence is currently being processed at the National Forensic Service for a DNA test.

Focus News, a domestic media outlet, reported that the woman accused Yoochun of taking her to the bathroom to have a forced sexual intercourse. But police reportedly stated  no abnormalities were found in the video footage of a security camera inside the bar's corridor. There were no security cameras inside the private room.

C-JeS Entertainment, Yoochun's agency, insisted the suit was based on false accusations. "The accusation on Yoochun is just a false claim and further details will be revealed by authorities," the agency said in a statement on Monday. "We will not come to terms with such malicious blackmailing. Yoochun will sincerely cooperate with authorities ... to reveal the truth."

Yoochun's reputation has already been damaged by unverified news reports about the incident, it said, calling for a cautious media approach. After the news' breakout, Yoochun went on a sick leave Tuesday after appearing to work at his office.

He had maintained a clean image before he started his mandatory military service last August, not as a regular army soldier but as a public service worker in Seoul's Gangnam district. The singer is to be discharged in August 2017.

South Korea's online community is engulfed in a hot debate over Yoochun's alleged sexual assault. "CaseOut", a user from MLBPark, wrote: "Yoochun was just unlucky. Maybe the woman who claims to be the victim wanted some money from him, but things got out of hand."

Another nicknamed "Mr.Stiff" urged people to take a step back and wait before making any rash  decisions: "Considering the size of toilets in the private rooms, it's nearly impossible to do anything inside. Only a urinal is placed in it."

Yoochun debuted in 2004 as a member of boy group "Dong Bang Shin Ki" and pursued a career as a singer. In 2010, he made his acting debut in a hit drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal". The drama gained popularity in Asian countries, setting up a large fan base. He appeared in several more dramas such as "The Girl Who Sees Smells" and "Three Days".

Aju News Park Sae-jin = swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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