In the Know with Purplenette
Since people seemed to like the first article I wrote on the lives of actors and actresses, I decided to write another one. The focus is only one person who is making the news big time.
I really wanted to wait until the verdict to write about this, but there is just so much information that I thought I would at least tell the story and then update when the verdict comes in. I’m sure most of you have read about it by now. Here it goes.
On February 15, 2013, Park Shi Hoo went drinking with a friend, Kim (an actor) that introduced him to a “Trainee”. They drank two bottles of flavored soju and ate over an approximate 3 hour period. Park Shi Hoo says he had about 10 shots while Kim says that he did not drink because he had surgery. There is security camera footage that shows Trainee walking out of the bar on her own with Park Shi Hoo. Apparently witnesses don’t believe Trainee could have navigated the stairs at the bar if she was drunk. There is also footage showing Kim carrying Trainee in the parking lot to Park Shi Hoo’s home. They all went back to Park Shi Hoo’s home and spent the night. I found one source that says Trainee did not leave his home until the following afternoon.
On February 19, 2013, Park Shi Hoo is indicted for sexual assault.
“I lost consciousness after drinking and when I woke up, I realized I had been sexually assaulted by Park Shi Hoo.” - Trainee
Park Shi Hoo releases a statement saying that there was consensual sex.
“There was mutual interest on both parties, and he did not force anything on her.” – Park Shi Hoo Representative
“While it is true we met through a mutual friend at a bar there was mutual interest as man and woman, all relations we had were consensual…have nothing to hide surrounding the allegations, and this will be revealed upon further investigation.” – Park Shi Hoo
On February 19, 2013, Park Shi Hoo is indicted for sexual assault.
“I lost consciousness after drinking and when I woke up, I realized I had been sexually assaulted by Park Shi Hoo.” - Trainee
Park Shi Hoo releases a statement saying that there was consensual sex.
“There was mutual interest on both parties, and he did not force anything on her.” – Park Shi Hoo Representative
“While it is true we met through a mutual friend at a bar there was mutual interest as man and woman, all relations we had were consensual…have nothing to hide surrounding the allegations, and this will be revealed upon further investigation.” – Park Shi Hoo
Kim is also being sued due to this incident. He released his own statement
“The fact that something like this happened because I introduced Park Shi Hoo to Trainee is killing me. My identity was revealed, and the fact that people from different media is calling me is making it harder. I wanted to cut off outside connections and wanted to reveal the truth to the situation through the police but there were one-sided articles that came up. It’s really hard and stifling.” – Kim
“Kim already knew that he would be facing a lawsuit. He was nervous when he heard from Trainee that she would be suing him as well. He is currently at his house and has cut off all contact from the outside.” – Kim Representative
“Kim already knew that he would be facing a lawsuit. He was nervous when he heard from Trainee that she would be suing him as well. He is currently at his house and has cut off all contact from the outside.” – Kim Representative
This is where things start to get as complicated as any drama I have ever watched. I don’t even know where to start. So I will just lay it all out as best I can.
After testing, the National Forensic verifies that there are no drugs in Trainee’s system.
“Traces of drug or abnormal substance use were not found inTrainee A’s blood and urine tests.”
Kim also comes forward with text messages received from Trainee that are “typical everyday conversations”.
Text messages between Kim, and Trainee on February 15, 2013, 3:41PM:
Trainee to Kim:“I’m home.”
Kim to Trainee:“Do you feel okay?”
The conversation went on between 3:58:36 pm and 4:25pm:
Kim to Trainee: “Let’s go clubbing later”
Trainee to Kim: “Man haha you said you’re going to [club name], right?”
The rest of the conversation was submitted to the police.
A “Friend” of Trainee comes forward making a statement of her own.
“Trainee is not very close friends with Park’s friend Kim and that they had only met once prior at a bar. Initially Kim and Trainee met at a café but Kim said he would invite Park so suggested they go to a bar…Park and Kim did not drink at the bar and only made Trainee drink. Trainee said that she only had about a bottle of soju but that usually does not get her drunk….Trainee also said that she felt unusually hazy…Police said the security camera footage from the parking garage of Park’s home showed Park wearing a mask and cap over his head.There’s no explanation for that unless everything was premeditated. Trainee said by the time she woke up the next morning Park was in the mist of engaging in sexual activity with her and was even wearing a condom…Kim entered the room while Park and Trainee were engaged in sexual activity and groped Trainee, who was completely unclothed.” - Friend
Friend also claims that Trainee texted her the same day saying…
“What do I do now? What happened last night?” instead of the usual “Hi.”
“Trainee proceeded to move forward with the lawsuit with the help of her parents….If she wanted money, why would she have gone to the police the very next day? I’m speechless to hear them say no actions were forced.” - Friend
Purme Law responds in press release to Friend’s interview, and insists the information was “fabricated by Trainee and are completely untrue.”
“As many already know, Park has a low alcohol tolerance level. However, he was enjoying himself on the night of the alleged incident and had about 10 shots of cocktail soju with ice over a period of about 3 hours. Reports of Park not having drank that night are not true…While Trainee claims to have been unconscious inside Park’s home for 13 hours, her recollection of even the smallest details that coincidentally work against Park should question her credibility…She reportedly ‘felt hazy’ and alluded to drug involvement. She then submitted to blood and urine testing by National Forensics as though it would come back positive for drug use. Her actions to present have been questionable…Trainee left Park’s home looking completely normal at about 2PM following the alleged incident, which can be proven by the elevator’s security camera footage. More so, Trainee and Park’s friend Kim exchanged friendly messages multiple times thereafter…Park had every intention of appearing for questioning but due to changes in legal responsibility had no choice but to push back the date.”
Purme also stated that Park Shi Hoo regularly wears a mask when he is out because he is uncomfortable when in public.
“Traces of drug or abnormal substance use were not found inTrainee A’s blood and urine tests.”
Kim also comes forward with text messages received from Trainee that are “typical everyday conversations”.
Text messages between Kim, and Trainee on February 15, 2013, 3:41PM:
Trainee to Kim:“I’m home.”
Kim to Trainee:“Do you feel okay?”
The conversation went on between 3:58:36 pm and 4:25pm:
Kim to Trainee: “Let’s go clubbing later”
Trainee to Kim: “Man haha you said you’re going to [club name], right?”
The rest of the conversation was submitted to the police.
A “Friend” of Trainee comes forward making a statement of her own.
“Trainee is not very close friends with Park’s friend Kim and that they had only met once prior at a bar. Initially Kim and Trainee met at a café but Kim said he would invite Park so suggested they go to a bar…Park and Kim did not drink at the bar and only made Trainee drink. Trainee said that she only had about a bottle of soju but that usually does not get her drunk….Trainee also said that she felt unusually hazy…Police said the security camera footage from the parking garage of Park’s home showed Park wearing a mask and cap over his head.There’s no explanation for that unless everything was premeditated. Trainee said by the time she woke up the next morning Park was in the mist of engaging in sexual activity with her and was even wearing a condom…Kim entered the room while Park and Trainee were engaged in sexual activity and groped Trainee, who was completely unclothed.” - Friend
Friend also claims that Trainee texted her the same day saying…
“What do I do now? What happened last night?” instead of the usual “Hi.”
“Trainee proceeded to move forward with the lawsuit with the help of her parents….If she wanted money, why would she have gone to the police the very next day? I’m speechless to hear them say no actions were forced.” - Friend
Purme Law responds in press release to Friend’s interview, and insists the information was “fabricated by Trainee and are completely untrue.”
“As many already know, Park has a low alcohol tolerance level. However, he was enjoying himself on the night of the alleged incident and had about 10 shots of cocktail soju with ice over a period of about 3 hours. Reports of Park not having drank that night are not true…While Trainee claims to have been unconscious inside Park’s home for 13 hours, her recollection of even the smallest details that coincidentally work against Park should question her credibility…She reportedly ‘felt hazy’ and alluded to drug involvement. She then submitted to blood and urine testing by National Forensics as though it would come back positive for drug use. Her actions to present have been questionable…Trainee left Park’s home looking completely normal at about 2PM following the alleged incident, which can be proven by the elevator’s security camera footage. More so, Trainee and Park’s friend Kim exchanged friendly messages multiple times thereafter…Park had every intention of appearing for questioning but due to changes in legal responsibility had no choice but to push back the date.”
Purme also stated that Park Shi Hoo regularly wears a mask when he is out because he is uncomfortable when in public.
In the midst of all this prior to Park Shi Hoo going to the police to make a statement, Park Shi Hoo, Kim and Trainee meet so they can understand what is going on. Park Shi Hoo offers Trainee money (said to be 100 billion won) as a settlement, but she wants more.
Sometime after that a KakaoTalk conversation between Trainee and Friend is revealed:
Friend to Trainee: “Since this is a big thing, you should request 1 billion KRW (approximately $922,000 USD) from them. Use this chance to definitely get money from them or you can crush him.”
Trainee to Friend: “I’m going to show off my best acting skills during the police investigation to make it seem like I’m the biggest victim.
Park Shi Hoo is called to testify, but has to delay it because he changes law firms from Hwawoo Law to Prume Law. Prume law also requests a change of venue and is denied. Park Shi Hoo gives his statement for 10 hours on March 1, 2013. They also take an oral sample of Park Shi Hoo and Kim’s DNA to compare it to the sample found on Trainee.
Finally after all of this Park Shi Hoo files law suit for blackmail against Trainee, Friend, and Mr. Hwang [CEO of Park Shi Hoo’s former agency, EYAGI Entertainment.
A representative for Park Shi Hoo released a statement on the lawsuits:
“Charges were filed against all three for crimes such as blackmail and false accusations among others. In the case of Friend, she took Trainee’s side and gave false information to the press. Defamation of character was also applied to the charges for the untrue information that was published…on the surface it appeared as though the CEO of Park’s former management company was supportive of Park both mentally and physically despite the fact that Park’s contract had recently ended. However, it turned out that was he was the mastermind behind the entire case. Evidence to prove that the three conspired together in this case have already been collected.”
Park Si Hoo’s former agency also directly denied having anything to do with this case commenting,
“Even after their contract ended, the CEO and Park Si Hoo decided to remain as acquaintances who could offer help to one another in times of need. So in order to do so, the CEO tried his best… Due to various assumptions and false rumors, it seems Park Si Hoo and his side’s misunderstanding has been growing, and led to this lawsuit. We feel very sad and regretful that it has come to this. The CEO will do all that he can, even if it means getting into a lawsuit with Park Si Hoo, to prove his innocence.“
So that is the last of it for now. I will do an update later on how this all turns out. Oh, and I did not mention how the Netizens thought they found out who Trainee is and harassed a woman that had nothing to do with this case. I also did not write about how some Netizens have accused Park Shi Hoo of stealing money. Park Shi Hoo’s fan cite released a statement against those accusations.
Sources: Asia 24/7, Soompi, allkpop
This is usually where I give my opinion,but not this time. It is all just too crazy. Let me know what you think of this situation.
Sometime after that a KakaoTalk conversation between Trainee and Friend is revealed:
Friend to Trainee: “Since this is a big thing, you should request 1 billion KRW (approximately $922,000 USD) from them. Use this chance to definitely get money from them or you can crush him.”
Trainee to Friend: “I’m going to show off my best acting skills during the police investigation to make it seem like I’m the biggest victim.
Park Shi Hoo is called to testify, but has to delay it because he changes law firms from Hwawoo Law to Prume Law. Prume law also requests a change of venue and is denied. Park Shi Hoo gives his statement for 10 hours on March 1, 2013. They also take an oral sample of Park Shi Hoo and Kim’s DNA to compare it to the sample found on Trainee.
Finally after all of this Park Shi Hoo files law suit for blackmail against Trainee, Friend, and Mr. Hwang [CEO of Park Shi Hoo’s former agency, EYAGI Entertainment.
A representative for Park Shi Hoo released a statement on the lawsuits:
“Charges were filed against all three for crimes such as blackmail and false accusations among others. In the case of Friend, she took Trainee’s side and gave false information to the press. Defamation of character was also applied to the charges for the untrue information that was published…on the surface it appeared as though the CEO of Park’s former management company was supportive of Park both mentally and physically despite the fact that Park’s contract had recently ended. However, it turned out that was he was the mastermind behind the entire case. Evidence to prove that the three conspired together in this case have already been collected.”
Park Si Hoo’s former agency also directly denied having anything to do with this case commenting,
“Even after their contract ended, the CEO and Park Si Hoo decided to remain as acquaintances who could offer help to one another in times of need. So in order to do so, the CEO tried his best… Due to various assumptions and false rumors, it seems Park Si Hoo and his side’s misunderstanding has been growing, and led to this lawsuit. We feel very sad and regretful that it has come to this. The CEO will do all that he can, even if it means getting into a lawsuit with Park Si Hoo, to prove his innocence.“
So that is the last of it for now. I will do an update later on how this all turns out. Oh, and I did not mention how the Netizens thought they found out who Trainee is and harassed a woman that had nothing to do with this case. I also did not write about how some Netizens have accused Park Shi Hoo of stealing money. Park Shi Hoo’s fan cite released a statement against those accusations.
Sources: Asia 24/7, Soompi, allkpop
This is usually where I give my opinion,but not this time. It is all just too crazy. Let me know what you think of this situation.
UPDATE from March 6, 2013:
Friend has released more information while stating that she is confused and now not in contact with Trainee. Friend says that she was meeting a CEO of a label when she heard from Trainee that she was raped. She was in shock and told that CEO who set up a meeting between Trainee and Mr Hwang.
"He told me, ‘That’s good. Mr. Hwang has been wanting to get back at Park Si Hoo. Let’s take care of this with Mr. Hwang’s help.’” According to Friend, Mr. Hwang had not met Trainee before the incident, and only met after as the other label’s CEO had set up the meeting between them."
Friend goes on to say that Trainee and Mr. Hwang met on the March 16, 2013 around 10:30 pm. Supposedly he told her to report it to the police right away, but by that time she had already done so.
Friend goes on to say
“First, Trainee said she would get Mr. Hwang’s help. But when the incident spread to the media, she said she would take care of it with her parents and refused Mr. Hwang’s help and even my help. I don’t know what happened between them after that.”
Mr. Hwang denies all accusations that it is a conspiracy to get back at Park Shi Hoo.
”It’s true we met up, but I met her for about 5 minutes to understand what happened with Park Si Hoo and to aid in just settling this issue. I comforted Trainee a bit because she showed up trembling. I didn’t do anything Friend said I did. It is 2000% not true.”
“I told Park Si Hoo after the other label’s CEO told me about it, and then tried to find to push for a settlement between the two because ‘Trainee and Park Si Hoo said different things. Friend is not telling the truth. That other CEO even also said that it is not easy to trust Friend 100%.”
Friend also talks about asking Park Shi Hoo for money. She says that it is out of context and reveals the rest of the conversation.
“The latter portion[of the KakaoTalk conversation] was cut off. I told her, ‘You have to make things clear. You might look like you don’t really have any thoughts, so at least look sad. This person said he’ll help’. She replied, ‘Okay, I’ll act sad’. And I replied, ‘It’s definitely a sad thing. You don’t have to act, you just have to say everything as it is’. But that part got cut off.”
Friend also explained why she is confused.
“It’s not true that I tried to get money with Trainee. I’m also confused as well. What Trainee told me happened, what the media is reporting, and the texts between Park Si Hoo’s hoobae and Trainee are so different. That’s why I’ve also stopped talking to Trainee.”
You can read a full transcript of Kim and Trainee’s Kakao talk at allkpop.
Also it is reported that Trainee handed over her phone to the police.
Also it is reported that Trainee handed over her phone to the police.
UPDATE from March 9, 2013: (thanks to Ceinwyn)
Chosun Ilbo reported Trainee had targeted other men in the past. They dug up a similar case involving Trainee blackmailing a Mr. Lee with whom she had a one-night stand two years ago. Mr. Lee gave an interview on JTBC in which he said Trainee said she could be pregnant the next day and her close friend (not sure if it is the same friend as in the current case) threatened him with “responsibility” to intimidate him. Then eventually there was talk of money.
Mr. Lee stated,"I spent the night with her and she told me she was pregnant one or two days after. She used the pregnant scenario and told me to take care of it. The conclusion is that she wants money. That was very similar to Park Shi Hoo's case."
Mr. Lee stated,"I spent the night with her and she told me she was pregnant one or two days after. She used the pregnant scenario and told me to take care of it. The conclusion is that she wants money. That was very similar to Park Shi Hoo's case."
UPDATE from March 11, 2013
Friend wants to apologize to Park Shi Hoo
"WhenI heard that she was raped by Park Shi Hoo, I couldn't stay still. We were very close for 4 years and we never had any problems so I believed everything she said but when I saw the police investigation report and the Kakaotalk messages, I realized that she was using me."
Friend stated, "Mythoughts of wanting to help my friend that I've known for 4 years only hurt Park Shi Hoo. I am not directly related to the case but it is definitely my fault that I ruined his reputation. If I get a chance, I want to sincerely apologize to Park Shi Hoo. I really want the truth to come out of this case."
Source: KDramaStars
Friend stated, "Mythoughts of wanting to help my friend that I've known for 4 years only hurt Park Shi Hoo. I am not directly related to the case but it is definitely my fault that I ruined his reputation. If I get a chance, I want to sincerely apologize to Park Shi Hoo. I really want the truth to come out of this case."
Source: KDramaStars
UPDATE from March 13, 2013: (thanks to dapinaymrs)
I just copied this word for word from Facebook. (A = Trainee) (K = Kim)
2013.03.13 08:27 News report
[Exclusive] Park Si Hoo case: “A asks Park Si Hoo to use condom and to be responsible for her till she is 80 years old.”
In the case of Park Si Hoo (36) being accused of rape by an aspiring actress A (22), the younger actor K (24) who was present during the whole incident and who has also been accused of sexual molestation has given an exclusive interview.
K said: “Since Sihoo has been accused, I have talked with him, so I know a significant portion of the truth of the incident. A through certain channels made various claims, but Sihoo has only stated his position during the police investigation and has not said anything else. Many people are looking at him through “colored” lenses [ED: biased], when they should reserve judgement.”
Q & A (A is K's answers)
Q: On the night of February 14, the location of themeeting was changed to a bar in Cheongdam-dong. Allegations are circulating that the change of venue was to get A drunk.
A: On the day of the incident, I offered to introduce Ato my elder brother Sihoo. It was February 14, Valentine’s Day, and there were many people in the original cafe, so we switched to that bar in Cheongdam-dong which has private rooms, so Sihoo would not be subject to other people’s curious glances.
Q: What happened inside the room? Park Si Hoo is knownfor not being able to drink and you did not drink, so was A the only one who drank?
A: Park Si Hoo has never been able to drink much and Iwas not feeling well, so I did not drink. A was drinking and creating atmosphere and playing drinking games with Sihoo. Sihoo could not hold his liquor and was half dozing; I even took some photos. A drank a lot, but I did not drink.
Q: When the 3 of you left the bar, why did you not breakup and instead go to Park Si Hoo’s apartment. Planning a rape?
A: The atmosphere at the bar was very good. We hadwanted to go elsewhere to continue drinking, but it was already too late. A was a little drunk, so it was difficult to send her in a taxi to her home in Sangam-dong. Sihoo’s apartment was only 5 minutes away by car, so we decided to go there for another round of drinks. I drove because I was not drinking alcohol, and Sihoo sat in the passenger seat to give directions. A was in the backseat.
Q: When she left the bar, A could walk down the stairsjust fine. But when she arrived at Park Si Hoo’s parking lot, she could not walk and had to be carried on your back. Why? It was only a 5-minute drive.
A: In regard to this, both Sihoo and I could notunderstand. We were puzzled.
Q: What was the situation when the 3 of you went to ParkSi Hoo’s apartment? A claimed she was raped by Park Si Hoo while she was unconscious and you also molested her.
A: Originally we planned to continue drinking in Sihoo’sapartment. But when she got out of the car, A was already drunk. A vomited in the elevator. This was not caught on CCTV but the apartment security guards confirmed this fact. Some reports say I took off A’s clothes to wash off the vomit but this is not true. Anyone who is drunk becomes at least half-conscious after vomiting. A was sober enough to go to the bathroom to wash up and then go to bed.
Q: So is it like the contents of Kakao Talk that it wascramped together in bed so you went into the living room.
A: I was used to joking with A. I just wanted to put herat ease in Kakao Talk the next day. The Kakao Talk is just word-for-word dialogue; they don’t mean much. At the bar the atmosphere was very good, so I just wanted to leave Sihoo and A alone, which was why I went into the living room. It is not true that we were having sex as a threesome or that I sexually molested A.
Q: Then what really happened between Park Si Hoo and Ain the room?
A: What happened between Sihoo and A in the room thatday, only the two of them knew. However, the case is simple. If A was sober, she could refuse to have sexual intercourse with Sihoo. If A was drunk and unconscious and Sihoo forcibly had sexual intercourse with her, then it was rape. If force was used, there would be injurty on A’s body. But there was no injury on A’s body at all, so there was absolutely no rape. A claimed she was raped while she was unconscious. According to Sihoo, during sexual intercourse A was conscious and cooperated aggressively. I will not say in what ways she was aggressive. A also demanded that Sihoo wear a condom, so they had protected sex twice. If A had been raped while drunk, she would not have such reaction. About aggressive sexual intercourse, Sihoo has already mentioned this during the police investigation last time.
Q: You left Park Si Hoo’s home around noon on February15 and A left at 2:40 p.m What was the atmosphere like then?
A: It was cordial when the two of them parted. Sihoo andA even exchanged cell phone numbers. CCTV footage showed A was looking cheerful in the elevator, fiddling with her cell phone and touching her hair. If she had really been raped, would she have looked so calm?
Q: Park Si Hoo panicked for some time after beingaccused of sexual assault?
A: Sihoo was terribly upset to experience something likethis for the first time. Many people who cared about Sihoo wanted to help. But there were too many speculations and the situation was getting out of control.
Q: One of the questions is the sudden change of lawyers— from the original law firm to PURME. It is said the first law firm which was introduced by Park Si Hoo’s former management company quit because they knew they could not win.
A: Park Si Hoo switched to PURME because it was highlyrecommended by the people around him. It was not because the first law firm was introduced by his former management company or because this first law firm quit.
Q: Why did Park Si Hoo apply for the case to betransferred to Gangnam Police Station? (ultimately rejected by Western Police Station.) It has been said Park Si Hoo was hoping to receive favorable treatment from Gangnam Police Station.
A: Western Police Station scheduled Sihoo’s attendancefor Feb. 24, but Sihoo was just changing to his new law firm PURME who needed time to familiarize themselves with the case and to investigate the incident. Western Police Station in fact only mailed Attendance Notice to Sihoo once and only one. Prior to that, they never called Sihoo directly by phone. The police said they did not have Sihoo’s contact number, so they called Sihoo’s former management company to ask Sihoo to attend the investigation, and Sihoo only heard about it from his former management company. It does not make sense for the police to contact Sihoo’s former management company representative Hwang. Sihoo applied to transfer the police station on the advice of PURME. A’s lawyer used to work at Western District Prosecutors’ Office with jurisdiction over the Western Police Station, and this fact caused some anxiety.
Q: Some reports say the Park Si Hoo side offered A 100million won as settlement, but A refused because she wanted Park Si Hoo punished. Is this true?
A: It is true. Both sides wanted to settle and 100million was mentioned.. Some in the media say Sihoo is Goliath and A is David. (Reference is to the bliblical story of the battle between David and the giant Goliath.) However, in a case of sexual violence, the celebrity is actually David. Because he has lost so much already, even if it turns out that he is innocent, he would still receive strong criticism in public opinion in such a case. That was the situation Sihoo was in, so both sides were trying to work out a settlement. As the media reported, A did not explicitly ask for a figure but she made unacceptable demands like “wanting to live in a foreign country” and “PSH must be responsible for her until she is 80 years old.” So they could not reach a consensus. It is true Sihoo’s mother met with A’s father, but the media did not mention the above facts and just presented it like Sihoo’s mother was trying to solve everything with money. It is deplorable that A should try to make things out to be like this.
Q: Some people who claim to be on Park Si Hoo’s sidehave been talking to the media. Are what they have said true?
A: Not long ago, someone who claimed to be a closefriend of Sihoo’s gave an interview to the media and said Sihoo had wanted to continue seeing A. But Sihoo never said such a thing to anyone. That is why even though I’ve been watching everything, I did not jump into the fray for fear of causing more confusion.
Reporter: We attempted to contact A’s lawyer Kim Aseveral times but our calls were not returned.
[email protected]
In the case of Park Si Hoo (36) being accused of rape by an aspiring actress A (22), the younger actor K (24) who was present during the whole incident and who has also been accused of sexual molestation has given an exclusive interview.
K said: “Since Sihoo has been accused, I have talked with him, so I know a significant portion of the truth of the incident. A through certain channels made various claims, but Sihoo has only stated his position during the police investigation and has not said anything else. Many people are looking at him through “colored” lenses [ED: biased], when they should reserve judgement.”
Q & A (A is K's answers)
Q: On the night of February 14, the location of themeeting was changed to a bar in Cheongdam-dong. Allegations are circulating that the change of venue was to get A drunk.
A: On the day of the incident, I offered to introduce Ato my elder brother Sihoo. It was February 14, Valentine’s Day, and there were many people in the original cafe, so we switched to that bar in Cheongdam-dong which has private rooms, so Sihoo would not be subject to other people’s curious glances.
Q: What happened inside the room? Park Si Hoo is knownfor not being able to drink and you did not drink, so was A the only one who drank?
A: Park Si Hoo has never been able to drink much and Iwas not feeling well, so I did not drink. A was drinking and creating atmosphere and playing drinking games with Sihoo. Sihoo could not hold his liquor and was half dozing; I even took some photos. A drank a lot, but I did not drink.
Q: When the 3 of you left the bar, why did you not breakup and instead go to Park Si Hoo’s apartment. Planning a rape?
A: The atmosphere at the bar was very good. We hadwanted to go elsewhere to continue drinking, but it was already too late. A was a little drunk, so it was difficult to send her in a taxi to her home in Sangam-dong. Sihoo’s apartment was only 5 minutes away by car, so we decided to go there for another round of drinks. I drove because I was not drinking alcohol, and Sihoo sat in the passenger seat to give directions. A was in the backseat.
Q: When she left the bar, A could walk down the stairsjust fine. But when she arrived at Park Si Hoo’s parking lot, she could not walk and had to be carried on your back. Why? It was only a 5-minute drive.
A: In regard to this, both Sihoo and I could notunderstand. We were puzzled.
Q: What was the situation when the 3 of you went to ParkSi Hoo’s apartment? A claimed she was raped by Park Si Hoo while she was unconscious and you also molested her.
A: Originally we planned to continue drinking in Sihoo’sapartment. But when she got out of the car, A was already drunk. A vomited in the elevator. This was not caught on CCTV but the apartment security guards confirmed this fact. Some reports say I took off A’s clothes to wash off the vomit but this is not true. Anyone who is drunk becomes at least half-conscious after vomiting. A was sober enough to go to the bathroom to wash up and then go to bed.
Q: So is it like the contents of Kakao Talk that it wascramped together in bed so you went into the living room.
A: I was used to joking with A. I just wanted to put herat ease in Kakao Talk the next day. The Kakao Talk is just word-for-word dialogue; they don’t mean much. At the bar the atmosphere was very good, so I just wanted to leave Sihoo and A alone, which was why I went into the living room. It is not true that we were having sex as a threesome or that I sexually molested A.
Q: Then what really happened between Park Si Hoo and Ain the room?
A: What happened between Sihoo and A in the room thatday, only the two of them knew. However, the case is simple. If A was sober, she could refuse to have sexual intercourse with Sihoo. If A was drunk and unconscious and Sihoo forcibly had sexual intercourse with her, then it was rape. If force was used, there would be injurty on A’s body. But there was no injury on A’s body at all, so there was absolutely no rape. A claimed she was raped while she was unconscious. According to Sihoo, during sexual intercourse A was conscious and cooperated aggressively. I will not say in what ways she was aggressive. A also demanded that Sihoo wear a condom, so they had protected sex twice. If A had been raped while drunk, she would not have such reaction. About aggressive sexual intercourse, Sihoo has already mentioned this during the police investigation last time.
Q: You left Park Si Hoo’s home around noon on February15 and A left at 2:40 p.m What was the atmosphere like then?
A: It was cordial when the two of them parted. Sihoo andA even exchanged cell phone numbers. CCTV footage showed A was looking cheerful in the elevator, fiddling with her cell phone and touching her hair. If she had really been raped, would she have looked so calm?
Q: Park Si Hoo panicked for some time after beingaccused of sexual assault?
A: Sihoo was terribly upset to experience something likethis for the first time. Many people who cared about Sihoo wanted to help. But there were too many speculations and the situation was getting out of control.
Q: One of the questions is the sudden change of lawyers— from the original law firm to PURME. It is said the first law firm which was introduced by Park Si Hoo’s former management company quit because they knew they could not win.
A: Park Si Hoo switched to PURME because it was highlyrecommended by the people around him. It was not because the first law firm was introduced by his former management company or because this first law firm quit.
Q: Why did Park Si Hoo apply for the case to betransferred to Gangnam Police Station? (ultimately rejected by Western Police Station.) It has been said Park Si Hoo was hoping to receive favorable treatment from Gangnam Police Station.
A: Western Police Station scheduled Sihoo’s attendancefor Feb. 24, but Sihoo was just changing to his new law firm PURME who needed time to familiarize themselves with the case and to investigate the incident. Western Police Station in fact only mailed Attendance Notice to Sihoo once and only one. Prior to that, they never called Sihoo directly by phone. The police said they did not have Sihoo’s contact number, so they called Sihoo’s former management company to ask Sihoo to attend the investigation, and Sihoo only heard about it from his former management company. It does not make sense for the police to contact Sihoo’s former management company representative Hwang. Sihoo applied to transfer the police station on the advice of PURME. A’s lawyer used to work at Western District Prosecutors’ Office with jurisdiction over the Western Police Station, and this fact caused some anxiety.
Q: Some reports say the Park Si Hoo side offered A 100million won as settlement, but A refused because she wanted Park Si Hoo punished. Is this true?
A: It is true. Both sides wanted to settle and 100million was mentioned.. Some in the media say Sihoo is Goliath and A is David. (Reference is to the bliblical story of the battle between David and the giant Goliath.) However, in a case of sexual violence, the celebrity is actually David. Because he has lost so much already, even if it turns out that he is innocent, he would still receive strong criticism in public opinion in such a case. That was the situation Sihoo was in, so both sides were trying to work out a settlement. As the media reported, A did not explicitly ask for a figure but she made unacceptable demands like “wanting to live in a foreign country” and “PSH must be responsible for her until she is 80 years old.” So they could not reach a consensus. It is true Sihoo’s mother met with A’s father, but the media did not mention the above facts and just presented it like Sihoo’s mother was trying to solve everything with money. It is deplorable that A should try to make things out to be like this.
Q: Some people who claim to be on Park Si Hoo’s sidehave been talking to the media. Are what they have said true?
A: Not long ago, someone who claimed to be a closefriend of Sihoo’s gave an interview to the media and said Sihoo had wanted to continue seeing A. But Sihoo never said such a thing to anyone. That is why even though I’ve been watching everything, I did not jump into the fray for fear of causing more confusion.
Reporter: We attempted to contact A’s lawyer Kim Aseveral times but our calls were not returned.
[email protected]
