KBS's crime documentary program 'Smoking Gun' shed light on a group sexual assault case involving middle school girls, revealing the shocking attitudes of the 22 perpetrators and their families.
The broadcast on the 25th presented the reality of repeated sexual violence against the victim from high school years into adulthood. When the perpetrators, who were living ordinary lives, maintained an attitude of "I don't remember" and "We were just friends" during police investigations, MCs Lee Ji-hye and Ahn Hyun-mo expressed their anger, stating, "They are living calmly after ruining someone's life."
The investigating officer did not give up and conducted separate interrogations of the perpetrators, leading to confessions. With the addition of digital forensic investigations and testimonies, all 22 were eventually indicted. The court sentenced them to prison terms in the appeals trial, but the cast lamented that the sentences, ranging from a maximum of 7 years to a minimum of 2 years, were "shorter than the time the victim has suffered."
What was particularly shocking was the attitude of the perpetrators' parents. One parent stated in court, "Isn't it possible for people to touch each other when they brush past?" and "Is a doctor touching a patient also sexual harassment?" In response, MC Ahn Hyun-mo criticized, "Such comments kill the victim a second time."
At the end of the broadcast, the victim expressed her gratitude to the investigating officer for believing in her voice until the end, saying, "I am who I am today thanks to those who believed in me." The officer conveyed his sympathy, stating, "Victims of sexual crimes carry a lifelong trauma."
'Smoking Gun' is KBS's crime documentary that empathizes with the pain of victims amidst cleverly evolving crimes and highlights the importance of scientific investigation. This broadcast was not just a simple re-examination but raised the necessity for society to reflect on its responsibilities and the need for change.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
