A gynecologist at a major hospital in Seoul has been sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting a patient during an examination.
According to a report by Segye Ilbo on March 7, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced the gynecologist to three years in prison on charges of sexual assault. The incident occurred on February 20.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the doctor to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs. He was also banned from working in institutions related to children, adolescents, and people with disabilities for five years.
The doctor, who was a resident at the hospital’s gynecology department, was charged with assaulting a patient during an examination in July 2023. The victim was being examined just before being discharged.
During the trial, the doctor argued that the object inserted into the patient’s body was a medical instrument, not his own body. However, the court rejected his defense.
Only the doctor and the patient were in the examination room at the time of the incident. The examination chair was surrounded by curtains stretching from the ceiling to the floor, and the door to the hallway, which is usually left open, was closed that day.
The court found the victim’s testimony credible based on several key factors: The victim immediately screamed for help upon realizing the assault, and two nurses, along with a resident, entered the room after hearing her cries. Additionally, mixed DNA from both the victim and the defendant was found during the investigation. The court also noted that the victim, who had prior childbirth experience, was unlikely to have mistaken medical equipment for something else.
In its ruling, the court stated, “As a gynecologist, the defendant took advantage of the victim’s vulnerable position, knowing she had no choice but to follow his instructions. The victim likely endured severe emotional trauma as a result of this assault. Given the nature and circumstances of the crime, the defendant holds significant responsibility for his actions.”
The court explained its reasoning for the sentence, considering factors such as the defendant’s clean criminal record, age, character, background, the nature of the crime, and the events that followed the incident.
The hospital where the assault occurred stated that the doctor was a temporary resident at the time of the incident. The hospital immediately removed him from patient care duties as soon as the assault came to light and later suspended him from his position. The hospital also emphasized that the doctor has not been associated with the institution for quite some time.