The husband of Kim Seul-ah, head of the domestic e-commerce company Kurly, and a person surnamed Jeong, who heads Next Kitchen, has been sent to trial on charges of sexually assaulting a probationary employee.
The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office said on the 21st that it indicted Jeong without detention on charges of forcible indecent act on Oct. 31.
Jeong is accused of sexually assaulting probationary employee A at a company dinner held at a restaurant in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, in June last year. According to Dispatch's report, Jeong allegedly touched A, who was seated next to Jeong, and attempted to molest A, while whispering, "I like you," and "No matter what anyone says, if I say I'll keep you (convert you to a full-time position), I'll keep you."
A claimed, "Jeong said the probationary evaluation is like 'cohabitation,' and that it is a process to see if we can live together."
When this became known within the company, Jeong called A to a conference room and apologized. Jeong was quoted as saying, "I did something totally crazy. I have no excuse. I'm very sorry." However, regarding the "cohabitation" remark, Jeong explained, "It was something said to wrap up a conversation about the probationary evaluation."
On the act of molestation, Jeong claimed to have been drunk and said, "I grew up in an environment where people drank, and I seem to have misjudged the bounds of acceptable physical contact. I think I was Westernized." Jeong added, "I will not drink at company dinners going forward. I won't even start."
Even so, A decided it would be difficult to keep working at the company and resigned. A said, "Every time I saw people at the company, I avoided eye contact, and I felt people thinking, 'That happened, and you're still here,'" adding, "Even as the victim, I was afraid to keep going to work."
After resigning, A received psychiatric treatment and was diagnosed with severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), undergoing concurrent medication treatment. A later filed a complaint against Jeong on charges of forcible indecent act. A said, "I took courage from the doctor's words not to stay in the past and to do what I regret even now."
A disclosed the damage to the media, saying, "Head Jeong is still active, making collaboration products with famous chefs, but I have become someone who can function neither as a wife, nor as a daughter, nor as myself," adding, "This complaint is both to hold Jeong accountable for the wrongdoing and a choice for my own recovery."
Jeong's attorney said, "It is true that Jeong was indicted, but as the trial is ongoing, it is difficult to provide specific answers." Kurly has not issued a separate position regarding this case.
Jeong serves as the head of Next Kitchen, a supplier of home meal replacement (HMR) products to Kurly. According to the 2024 business report, Next Kitchen is an affiliate in which Kurly holds 46.4% equity.