49th Paeksang Arts Awards (Photo : Getty Images)
If the matter were only up to fans, embattled South Korean actor Park Yoochun would not be charged at all of soliciting a prostitute and fraud.
However, the Seoul Gangnam Police believed otherwise and recommended that prosecutors file those two charges against the actor whom four women separately accused of sexual assault. But because prostitution is illegal in South Korea, which is the basis of the fraud charges, Movienewsguide wrote that “it shall technically be, null and void.”
The police initially dropped the sexual assault charges because of the difficulty of proving that Park Yoochun forced the women to have sex, although it was apparent he did have sex with them. However, because the probers managed to restore some text messages from the actor’s mobile phone, it served as proof that the alleged victims asked money from Park Yoochun.
The website pointed out that the text messages, used as basis in filing solicitation of prostitution, were sent by the victim to a friend to discuss the money promised by Park Yoochun. It could be a basis for the failed payment, but the text did not originate from the actor but came from the victim which weakens the case.
Although the entertainment website, like the mass culture critic, believed that the two cases against Park Yoochun, it cannot be denied that the incident has permanently damaged his career. Kpopstarz cited multiple TV and movie producers who said that the actor would find it difficult to return to dramas because of the scandal, even if the cases turn out to be false.
However, many of his fans said they are willing to stick with the actor through thick and thin.
