Choi Jong Bum, Goo Hara's ex-boyfriend, apologized at his appeal proceedings and pleaded guilty to allegations he had initially repeatedly denied.
On September 13, 2018, about 1 a.m., Goo Hara and Choi Jong Bum got into a physical fight. Choi Jong Bum at first told the authorities that Goo Hara had violently attacked him, but she counteracted the statements and allegations that she was blackmailed with a sex tape by Choi Jong Bum.
Soon after, both were referred to the court on different charges, but Goo Hara obtained an arrest suspension when the case of Choi Jong Bum was brought to court.
In 2019, the grand jury indicted him with breaching the Sexual Crimes Punishment Act (recording areas of the body without knowledge or permission), an attack that causes physical harm, intimidation (blackmail), violence, disruption, and damage to property.
He was sentenced to one year and six months in jail during his first trial last August and was deferred for three years of probation.
This means he will end up serving his jail term for one year and six months if he perpetrates a crime during the three-year probationary period. Both he and the prosecution lodged an appeal to the court.
The first appeal process for Choi Jong Bum was conducted in the afternoon of May 21. The key concern at the appellate court proceedings was whether permission to the videotaping had been provided or not. He had been found not guilty of videotaping the victim's body without knowledge or permission at his first court hearing.
Lawyer for Choi Jong Bum said Choi Jong Bum acknowledges this decision. "We are calling for a non-culpable judgment on unlawful filming, as was granted in the first case."
The prosecutor responded, "During the first trial, it was unfair for him to be granted a not guilty verdict on unlawful filming." They demanded that he should be charged and convicted on all charges.
Goo Hara's brother Goo Ho In appeared in the grand jury and demanded serious and severe punishment for Choi Jong Bum. He said, "My sister was very frustrated and furious by the injustice of the very first sentencing hearing."
He added, "Like the 'Nth Room' victims, this was a traumatic and terrifying experience for my sister that she couldn't even get ahold of. Please, take a moment to think carefully about this, and in the pretrial hearing, give an adequate punishment."
Before the appeal process, Choi Jong Bum had refuted all the allegations apart from the one concerning the destruction of property. Still, he changed his stance and made an apology at the court hearing. He ended up guilty of all the allegations and charges upon him, except the nonconsensual video recording.
"I've felt plenty of things over the past two years, and reflected a lot," he said. "As I mentioned in my statement, I sincerely apologize to all those connected to this regardless of the circumstances."
Goo Ho In replied, "My sister was extremely upset after seeing him perform stuff like having a really good grand opening party with his friends and colleagues, boldly, after he said that he was trying to reflect. It would be hard, from a family member's viewpoint, to call this 'reflecting.'"
The conviction of Choi Jong Bum in his trial proceedings will be revealed on July 2.
