Former Governor Ahn Hee-jung's Sexual Assault Case Concludes with Compensation Order

Ahn Hee-jung, the former governor of South Chungcheong Province, and the provincial government are required to pay 83 million won (approximately $70,000) to Kim Ji-eun, a victim of sexual assault, following a ruling by the Seoul High Court. Neither party filed an appeal, leading to the confirmation of the decision on April 4, 2025. This marks the conclusion of Kim's compensation lawsuit, which she initiated nearly five years ago.

The ruling, delivered by the Civil Division 3 of the Seoul High Court on March 12, stated that Ahn must compensate Kim for damages. In civil cases, if neither party appeals within two weeks of receiving the judgment, the ruling becomes final. Ahn was previously convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault and harassment against Kim, who served as his secretary, from July 2017 to February 2018. The case gained public attention when Kim disclosed her experiences during a television interview in March 2018.

Ahn was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, a sentence that was upheld by the Supreme Court in September 2019. He was released in August 2022 after serving his term.

In July 2020, Kim filed a lawsuit seeking 300 million won (approximately $250,000) in damages, claiming that she suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to secondary victimization during the investigation and trial. Ahn's legal team denied any connection between the alleged assault and Kim's mental health issues. The trial was delayed significantly as the court sought to assess Kim's PTSD.

After the second trial ruling, Kim's attorney expressed disappointment that the court did not fully accept their claims but indicated they would consider an appeal to the Supreme Court. Ultimately, no appeal was filed, and the case has now reached a resolution.