Former “I’m SOLO” contestant Young Chul from Season 25 (real name Park Jae-hong, 35) has been handed a suspended prison sentence for sexual assault.

On September 19, the Seoul Western District Court sentenced Park Jae-hong to 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years, on charges of quasi-rape. The court additionally ordered him to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment and banned him from working at institutions involving children, adolescents, or people with disabilities for five years.

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Judge Kim Woo-hyun explained the verdict, stating: “The defendant committed intercourse despite the victim’s resistance while intoxicated. The victim suffered severe psychological trauma and sustained injuries while trying to resist.”

The incident occurred in June 2024, when Park Jae-hong assaulted a woman in her 20s at around 3:30 a.m. in a parking lot in Seoul’s Hongdae area. He was arrested on the spot and later indicted after CCTV footage was secured as evidence.

While the court acknowledged the severity of the crime, it considered factors such as Park Jae-hong’s admission of guilt, reflection, the victim’s decision not to pursue punishment after reaching a settlement, and his three months of detention before trial.

Park Jae-hong gained public recognition through ENA and SBS Plus’s dating reality shows “I’m SOLO” and its spin-off. Following news of his arrest, producers immediately issued a public apology and edited out all his footage starting from the June 26 broadcast.

Entire scenes involving Park Jae-hong’s connections with fellow contestants were cut, even altering the narrative of the show. In one July episode, viewers noticed that no final couple was formed because scenes involving his pairings were entirely removed.

Other cast members also distanced themselves. Season 24’s Gwang Soo deleted him from a group photo on social media, while Season 25’s Young Soo jokingly commented, “Send me that edited version too, lol.”

Reactions online have been harsh, with netizens writing:

  • He must have spent all his money on the settlement.
  • Sex crimes always get lighter sentences after a settlement.
  • He ruined his life—just like the title of the show, he’ll be solo forever.

Some also raised concerns about the victim’s position, noting: “Many victims agree to settle out of fear of retaliation.”

Producers reiterated their apology, promising stricter management of cast members both during and after filming. All related VOD episodes featuring Young Chul have since been taken down.

Sources: nate