[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil] The Korea Professional Golfers' Association (Chair Kim Won-seop, hereafter KPGA) said on March 23 that the suspect in the Busan-area golf lesson sexual assault and beating featured on JTBC's \"Sagunbanjang\" has been identified as Mr. Kim (60), who was expelled in January 2015 for long-term unpaid dues.
In the episode that aired in February, JTBC released CCTV showing a male instructor at a Busan driving range repeatedly sexually assaulting a female student and, when she resisted, attacking her later at a restaurant.
During the trial the suspect drew public outrage by claiming the victim had shown interest in him. On appeal, the Busan District Court sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.
After the broadcast, online speculation spread while the suspect's identity was still unclear. Relying only on a description calling him \"the most well-mannered golfer in Busan,\" some people wrongly accused Mr. Shin, who competed on the KPGA tour, triggering serious defamation.
JTBC's \"Sagunbanjang\" issued an official statement saying comments that identified Mr. Shin as the perpetrator were false and that it has filed defamation complaints against those commenters.
Mr. Shin also strongly denied any involvement in media interviews and YouTube comments, but KPGA members in Busan and Gyeongnam experienced concrete harm as potential students began avoiding lessons simply because the instructors were professional golfers.
Concerned about the spread of baseless rumors, Shin Hee-taek, chair of the KPGA disciplinary committee, and regional members in Busan and Gyeongnam launched an investigation to determine the perpetrator's identity.
The KPGA office said it repeatedly contacted the victim and local members, conducted a survey of eight Busan–Gyeongnam members born in 1966, sought legal counsel, and ultimately identified the suspect as Mr. Kim, who was expelled in January 2015 for long-term nonpayment of dues.
\"Through close coordination between Busan–Gyeongnam members and association staff, we were able to identify the perpetrator,\" Shin said, adding that Mr. Kim currently has no affiliation with the association.
Mr. Shin, who suffered undeserved reputational damage, thanked the association for helping clear his name and said the group must respond forcefully to restore the reputations of professional golfers. He is pursuing defamation suits against those who spread the false allegations.
The victim, identified as A, told the association by phone, \"I'm truly sorry that Mr. Shin suffered because of me. Now that the perpetrator's identity is known, no more innocent people should be harmed.\"
The KPGA is investigating indications that Mr. Kim continued offering golf lessons after his expulsion and is checking whether he falsely represented himself as a KPGA member. The association said it will actively consider legal action for defamation and obstruction of business based on the investigation and will fully cooperate with law enforcement if requested.
\"This case is a personal crime committed by an expelled individual, not misconduct by a current pro,\" said Kim Jin-hyung, KPGA tour director. \"We deeply sympathize with the victim's suffering and the devastation felt by Busan members, including Mr. Shin.\"
Kim added, \"The KPGA maintains a zero-tolerance policy on sexual crimes. We will use strong legal measures when necessary to demonstrate the association's ability to police itself. We will also build systems to prevent recurrence so the public can trust KPGA members.\"
The KPGA office said it regards impersonating a KPGA member (including expelled individuals) as a serious violation of association order and will actively respond after confirming the facts in any similar future cases.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
「The closest, most fun sports news ⓒ Sports Today」
In the episode that aired in February, JTBC released CCTV showing a male instructor at a Busan driving range repeatedly sexually assaulting a female student and, when she resisted, attacking her later at a restaurant.
During the trial the suspect drew public outrage by claiming the victim had shown interest in him. On appeal, the Busan District Court sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.
After the broadcast, online speculation spread while the suspect's identity was still unclear. Relying only on a description calling him \"the most well-mannered golfer in Busan,\" some people wrongly accused Mr. Shin, who competed on the KPGA tour, triggering serious defamation.
JTBC's \"Sagunbanjang\" issued an official statement saying comments that identified Mr. Shin as the perpetrator were false and that it has filed defamation complaints against those commenters.
Mr. Shin also strongly denied any involvement in media interviews and YouTube comments, but KPGA members in Busan and Gyeongnam experienced concrete harm as potential students began avoiding lessons simply because the instructors were professional golfers.
Concerned about the spread of baseless rumors, Shin Hee-taek, chair of the KPGA disciplinary committee, and regional members in Busan and Gyeongnam launched an investigation to determine the perpetrator's identity.
The KPGA office said it repeatedly contacted the victim and local members, conducted a survey of eight Busan–Gyeongnam members born in 1966, sought legal counsel, and ultimately identified the suspect as Mr. Kim, who was expelled in January 2015 for long-term nonpayment of dues.
\"Through close coordination between Busan–Gyeongnam members and association staff, we were able to identify the perpetrator,\" Shin said, adding that Mr. Kim currently has no affiliation with the association.
Mr. Shin, who suffered undeserved reputational damage, thanked the association for helping clear his name and said the group must respond forcefully to restore the reputations of professional golfers. He is pursuing defamation suits against those who spread the false allegations.
The victim, identified as A, told the association by phone, \"I'm truly sorry that Mr. Shin suffered because of me. Now that the perpetrator's identity is known, no more innocent people should be harmed.\"
The KPGA is investigating indications that Mr. Kim continued offering golf lessons after his expulsion and is checking whether he falsely represented himself as a KPGA member. The association said it will actively consider legal action for defamation and obstruction of business based on the investigation and will fully cooperate with law enforcement if requested.
\"This case is a personal crime committed by an expelled individual, not misconduct by a current pro,\" said Kim Jin-hyung, KPGA tour director. \"We deeply sympathize with the victim's suffering and the devastation felt by Busan members, including Mr. Shin.\"
Kim added, \"The KPGA maintains a zero-tolerance policy on sexual crimes. We will use strong legal measures when necessary to demonstrate the association's ability to police itself. We will also build systems to prevent recurrence so the public can trust KPGA members.\"
The KPGA office said it regards impersonating a KPGA member (including expelled individuals) as a serious violation of association order and will actively respond after confirming the facts in any similar future cases.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
「The closest, most fun sports news ⓒ Sports Today」
