Composer Yoo Jae-hwan. Photo Sports Kyunghyang DB

Composer Yoo Jae-hwan, who became known through programs such as Infinite Challenge, was sentenced by a court to a fine on a charge of indecent assault.

According to the legal community on the 2nd, at a hearing on the 26th of last month before Criminal Division 12 (single judge) of the Seoul Southern District Court on the charge of indecent assault, Yoo Jae-hwan was ordered to pay a fine of $3,750 (5,000,000 KRW) and to complete 40 hours of a sex offense treatment program.

In its written judgment, the court explained the reason for sentencing by noting that although the defendant molested a victim he met for the first time, it took into account that he had no prior punishment for similar crimes.

In 2015, as a composer under comedian Park Myung-soo, Yoo gained recognition through the MBC variety program Infinite Challenge via its music festival project, the Yeongdong Expressway Music Festival.

He later broadened his activities as an entertainer, appearing on shows such as Bangbanggokgok and Hyojachon. However, in June 2023, he was accused of forcibly molesting a victim he met after posting on social networking services an offer to compose songs without charging a composition fee.

He was also subjected to a group complaint on fraud charges last year by 23 people who had commissioned compositions from him, but a decision of non-referral (no suspicion) was issued due to insufficient evidence.

Thereafter, Yoo posted an apology on social networking services and said he would step away from the entertainment and broadcasting industries until the trial was over, but he has continued to deny the indecent assault charge.