Scandal in the Science World: Researcher Sexually Assaults Female Colleague

A researcher from a public institution under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries committed sexual assault toward a female colleague.

On May 6, JTBC reported that a researcher from the National Institute of Marine Biological Resources had sexually assaulted a female researcher in her hotel room while on a business trip.

According to the report, the researchers from the institution went on a business trip to a public institution under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam in July last year.

The researchers had dinner with drinks on the day before their return from the business trip. The drunk victim went back to her hotel room around 7:40 PM.

About two hours later, the victim woke up to a noise and found her male colleagues in front of her.

The victim testified, “When I opened my eyes, I was already naked and he was in front of me. I tried to push him away with my body and feet, telling him to get out.”

The investigation revealed that the male researcher lied to the hotel manager, saying, “Our employee went to the accommodation with something important for work, but we couldn’t reach her. Please open the room door.” While the manager opened the door with a spare card key and waited outside, the male researcher swapped the card key in the card slot with a restaurant business card and stole the victim’s room card key.

Afterward, he snuck into the victim’s room with the stolen card key, undressed the drunken victim, and committed sexual assault.

The National Institute of Marine Biological Resources dismissed the male researcher four months after the incident in November last year, and he was sentenced to 6 years in prison in the first trial held in January. However, the victim, who has not settled with the perpetrator, is appealing for severe punishment as she faces the second trial.