![Composer Yoo Jae-hwan. [Herald DB]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/11/news-p.v1.20260611.2e44763b615d43a5af33a25df0146925_P1.jpg)
Composer Yoo Jae-hwan, who received a fine at trial on charges of groping a woman he had just met, denied the charges again Thursday at the opening of his appeal hearing.
The Seoul Southern District Court's Criminal Appeals Division 3-1, presided over by judges Jang Yun-seon, Jo Gyu-seol and Yoo Hwan-woo, held the first session of Yoo's appeal Thursday. He was found guilty and fined 5 million won (about $3,280) at trial in November last year.
Yoo's legal team argued that the original ruling was unjust, citing errors of fact, misapplication of law and an improper sentence.
His attorney said it was hard to imagine that Yoo, a broadcaster, would grope a woman he had just met in a public place while risking the end of his career. The defense also argued that the accounts of a third-party witness, identified only by the surname Jeong, and the victim contradicted each other on key points, yet the lower court had given weight only to the victim's testimony while dismissing Jeong's statement.
The defense went on to ask the court to consider Yoo's health conditions, including panic disorder, and his near-clean prior record, even if the court were to find him guilty.
Prosecutors asked the court to overturn the original ruling and impose the one-year prison sentence they had sought at trial.
Yoo told the court he was "deeply remorseful," but said the situation had made it difficult to find work, leaving him struggling financially, and that he was afraid to go outside for fear of being recognized.
He added, "If the victim's testimony is considered consistent evidence, I ask the court to recognize that I, too, have been making consistent statements."
Yoo faces charges of groping the victim, a woman he met after posting on Instagram in June 2023 offering to compose music free of charge.
The appeal verdict is scheduled for July 16 at 2 p.m.
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