Actor Yoo Ah-in (real name Um Hong-sik) is seen coming out of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency building in Mapo-gu, Seoul on March 27, 2023, after completing an investigation into drug abuse allegations and answering questions from reporters. /news1
Seoul Yongsan Police Station has stated on the 25th that actor Yoo Ah-in (38, real name Um Hong-sik) has been booked on charges of same-sex sexual assault. Yoo is accused of sexually assaulting a man named A (30) who was sleeping in an officetel in Yongsan-gu on the 14th. Under current law, same-sex sexual assault is subject to charges similar to rape.
A was sleeping at the officetel from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the day of the incident, and he realized he was a victim of sexual assault upon waking up, and reported to the police the next day. The officetel was not a residence of Yoo or A but belonged to a third party, and there were other men present at the scene besides Yoo and A. The police are also investigating the possibility that Yoo, who is already facing trial for habitual drug abuse, may have committed the crime while under the influence of drugs on that day.
Yoo has been on trial for illegally procuring propofol 181 times from September 2020 to March 2022, and buying sleeping pills under someone else’s name from May 2021 to August 2022. The prosecution sentenced Yoo to 4 years in prison, a fine of 2 million won, and confiscation of over 1.5 million won on the 24th. Yoo’s representatives argued in the final plea that he suffers from depression, anxiety disorders, and insomnia, and had been advised by a mental health clinic to be hospitalized and take sedatives.
In response to these allegations, Yoo’s legal representatives stated, “The accusation related to Yoo Ah-in is not true,” and requested to refrain from unnecessary speculation regarding his personal life.