Former AOA's Kwon Mina speaks out after court partially recognises charges in 18-year-old sexual assault case

Former AOA member Kwon Mina shared a public statement following the conclusion of a legal case concerning a sexual assault incident that occurred 18 years ago, expressing mixed feelings of relief and emotional exhaustion after a partial court ruling.

On May 19, Kwon Mina posted a lengthy message on Instagram describing the end of “a long journey lasting more than four years,” referring to the legal proceedings related to the case. She said the trial process had been emotionally difficult but meaningful in terms of achieving partial legal recognition of the incident.

According to her statement, she had initially hoped both rape and bodily injury charges would be fully recognised, which could have resulted in stronger legal consequences for the perpetrator.

However, she stated that while the court acknowledged the rape charge, it did not recognise the injury-related charge, limiting the extent of possible punishment due to statute of limitations issues.

“For me as a victim, whether it was fully recognised or not mattered deeply, but it is meaningful that at least one charge was acknowledged,” she said. “It confirms that the person committed wrongdoing, and I can accept the outcome to some extent.”

Kwon Mina also reflected on the broader social context at the time of the incident, noting that victims in the past often had no choice but to remain silent due to societal attitudes. She encouraged other survivors of sexual violence not to blame themselves and to speak out without shame.

She expressed gratitude to law enforcement officials and prosecutors who supported her throughout the legal process, apologising for the difficulties the prolonged case may have caused them. The former idol also revealed that she is currently preparing for another legal case, adding that the process has left her feeling emotionally drained and at times helpless. She stated that victims often have no one to rely on when pursuing justice and that she is focusing on recovery for the time being.

“I do not wish to focus on outcomes, but rather hope that even a part of my testimony is acknowledged,” she said. “I will take some time to recover as I am currently exhausted, but I am not overly worried.”

She concluded her statement by expressing a sense of closure, saying, “It feels like I have completed one task, and I will continue to work through the remaining ones.”

Kwon Mina first publicly spoke about the incident in 2023 through a YouTube appearance, where she disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted during her middle school years. She later reiterated her trauma in social media posts, describing it as a lasting emotional wound.