A store of gimbap frachise Gimgane [JOONGANG ILBO]
The chairman of Gimgane, one of Korea's most popular
gimbap
(seaweed rice roll) franchises, received a suspended prison sentence on Thursday for attempting to sexually assault an intoxicated female employee.
Kim Yong-man was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years, on charges of attempted quasi-rape by the Seoul Northern District Court. The court also ordered Kim to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment education.
Under Article 299 of Korea’s Criminal Act, quasi-rape refers to engaging in sexual intercourse or committing an indecent act with someone who is unconscious or otherwise incapable of consenting or resisting.
Gimgane is a popular restaurant franchise selling quick and affordable
bunsik
(Korean street food), such as gimbap,
tteokbokki
(spicy rice cakes), fried rice and ramyeon
.
The chairman allegedly attempted to sexually assault the female employee who was incapacitated by alcohol after a company dinner on Sept. 23, 2023, by taking the employee to a nearby motel. He was referred to prosecutors in November 2024.
Prosecutors sought a three-year prison term for Kim during a court hearing on April 16, along with completion of a sexual violence treatment program, public disclosure and notification of personal information and a five-year employment restriction.
“Though the crime remained at the attempt stage, the defendant tried to rape an employee of a subsidiary where the defendant serves as chairman by taking advantage of the victim’s severely intoxicated state,” the court said. “Given the nature of the offense, the crime is extremely serious.”
Kim Yong-man, the chairman of gimbap (seaweed rice roll) franchise Gimgane [SCREEN CAPTURE]
The court continued, “The victim also appears to have suffered considerable sexual humiliation and psychological pain as a result of the crime, making severe punishment necessary.”
It added that it had taken into account that Kim had reflected on the wrongdoing and that the defendant settled with the victim around Sept. 27, 2023, paying 300 million won ($200,000) in compensation, although the victim later reversed the earlier agreement and expressed a desire for punishment.
After the ruling on Thursday, Kim left the courtroom without answering reporters’ questions, including whether there were plans to appeal, whether the defendant still regretted and reflected on the wrongdoing as stated during the closing hearing and what health problems the defendant had referred to previously.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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