Dance teacher jailed for sexual assault
A Waikato dance teacher used the premise of giving a young woman a massage to sexually assault her in her own home.
Cheol Min Hong told his victim as he was assaulting her that it was ‘‘what we call a happy ending’’.
But Hong, 61, of Tokoroa, was jailed for four years and eight months when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court last Wednesday.
He had earlier been found guilty by a jury of two representative charges of sexual violation by unlawful sexual connection, as well as three counts of indecent assault.
Some details of the case cannot be reported without leading to the identification of Hong’s victim, who was known to him.
It was on August 14, 2020, when Hong – who had many connections in the Waikato’s Korean community and was apparently considered a respected elder – heard that the young woman was feeling unwell.
He decided to drive to Hamilton to visit her, and give her a massage to help make her feel better, said Judge Philip Crayton, who presided over Hong’s trial earlier this year.
‘‘She no doubt expected this would be no more than a common massage, as described during the trial as occurring within the Korean community.’’
However Hong had more sinister motives. He had bought a bottle of massage oil and such was his haste to get to Hamilton he was pulled over by the police on the way and ticketed for speeding.
‘‘Given the rapid way matters proceeded, you were determined to engage sexually with the complainant, whatever happened.’’
On arrival he led the woman into her bedroom, closed the curtains, put a towel on the bed, and put some music on the television.
The woman became perturbed by this, and decided she did not want to be massaged. Hong insisted.
As she struggled and resisted, he removed her underwear and, holding her down on the bed, he sexually violated her several times.
He then removed his own clothes and, while holding her, told her ‘‘You will be OK. This is what we call a happy ending’’.
Eventually, the assaults ended because Hong realised the time and had to be elsewhere.
After being found guilty by the jury following the four-week trial, Hong wrote to his victim asserting his innocence and ‘‘made suggestions to her as to what she should do’’, Judge Crayton said.
‘‘I do not take that letter as an aggravating feature. It does though speak of your character flaw, and it underpins the offending.’’
Crown prosecutor Paige Noorland sought a start point for sentence of six years in jail. Hong’s counsel Jared Bell asked for about four years.
Hong continued to deny the offending, and believed he had been wrongly convicted, Bell said.
‘‘He is extremely sorry for the situation that has arisen. In saying that, I realise he can’t have his cake and eat it too.’’
Hong had come to court armed with a number of glowing character references. However Judge Crayton noted none of the people who had provided them had attended his trial, or heard what had happened.
‘‘They have not seen . . . the dark side that led to this offending.’’
There was a clear power imbalance between Hong and his victim, and he had exploited his ‘‘elder’’ status to further ‘‘a somewhat obsessive view of this much younger woman’’.
The incident had a dramatic effect on her.
She had become fearful of strangers and was unable to enjoy work or socialise, or ‘‘enjoy the things she should be able to take for granted’’.
The judge took a start point of five years and three months in jail. Hong’s previous good work and support of others in the Korean community warranted a 10% discount.