By This is something I have seen people complaining about in regards to the Korean man that raped a US soldier in Uijongbu this year who received a 3.5 year sentence and the US Army private Kevin Flippin who received a 10 year sentence for his rape crime. Well the Stars & Stripes looked into it and this is what they had to say:
From a distance, it appears a travesty of justice has occurred.
In hearings held just 12 days apart in the same courtroom, the same three-judge Uijeongbu District Court panel sentenced a Korean man in his 20s to 3.5 years in prison for the rape of a U.S. soldier in her late teens, and sentenced a U.S. soldier in his 20s to 10 years in prison for the rape of a Korean girl in her late teens.
The disparity in prison terms prompted a flurry of emails and Internet message board posts suggesting that the soldier-rapist was unfairly punished for his crimes and that the Korean man who raped the female servicemember was given a relatively light sentence because the Korean judges were biased toward their countrymen or against the U.S. military.
But a closer look at the situation reveals that while some believe publicity surrounding the soldier’s rape of the Korean teenager might have played a role in the disparity, there were a number of other factors that could explain why one rapist was sentenced to almost three times as much prison time. [Stars & Stripes]
You can read the rest of the article at the link that has a number of interviews with people like Michael Breen and other notable expats in Korea about this issue. As the S&S pointed out the two crimes were slightly different with Flippin’s rape being more violent and sadistic than the Uijongbu rape. Also something the S&S really doesn’t get into is that the Flippin rape involved theft as well which adds time on to a sentence. A soldier sentenced in 2008 for rape faced more scrutiny over whether or not he stole a cell phone during the crime than for the rape itself simply because of the possibility of an increased sentence. Strangely the theft charge in that case carried more jail time than the rape charge. So Flippin in my opinion received the best sentence he could have expected and still could see time reduced on appeal.
With the Uijongbu rape case people should just be happy the Korean rapist went to jail at all. The topic of the seriously flawed Korean legal system in regards to sex crimes is something that comes up repeatedly, especially with cases for example where family members who raped their handicapped teenage relative for years were given no jail time and even given back custody of the kid they had been raping. These absurd sex crime penalties have also effected USFK servicemembers who have been raped. The offender in the Uijongbu rape received a much steeper punishment than the cab driver that raped a female US Army Private that just arrived in Korea at Incheon airport. The guy was initially sentenced to 10 months in jail and the case was overturned on appeal because the private didn’t resist the rape enough. A similar thing happened with the ROK Army soldier that sexually assaulted a US female soldier where he received no jail time either. Then there was the man that raped a US Army officer in Taegu that was never caught. So at least for now it appears this guy in Uijongbu will at least do some time for the sexual assault.
Finally it is important to remember to compare these punishments to the 30 years in a US military jail that a Camp Jackson NCO received for rape. This was a case where the victim’s parents asked the US military to keep jurisdiction of the case instead of being tried in a Korean court because they knew the US military would give a harsher sentence. Private Flippin should consider himself very lucky to have received 10 years in a Korean jail instead of 30 years in Leavenworth.
She hasn’t seen...
5:45 pm on November 4th, 2011 1
Rape is bad but its really bad when you rape below 18 teenager.
10 years is really a slap in the wrist. That Korean guy who’d raped US female soldier got a slap in the wrist.
7:03 pm on November 5th, 2011 2
just goes to show you that Military DO STUPID things but has nothing to do with them being military .. (thats only compounds it) bottom line is a YOUNG kid did something stupid and has to pay the price.. What is wrong here is that becuase he IS in the Military he is punished Harder then a Korean National who had the same offense.. A DOUBLE STANDARD..
RAPE IS WRONG and I AGREE that punishment was not a question.. BOTH needed more TIME.. 3.5 yrs and a AMERICAN was raped (where is her justice)..
7:17 pm on November 5th, 2011 3
Yeah… three and a half years? Problem with ROK is that the law applied is really minimal in some cases. I think somebody in the government is trying to save money ‘cus if you keep too many in jail, it’ll cost the tax payers more..
Hope that’s not the case.
Ya gotta watch out for the taxi drivers here. If you are female, then you need to be more careful because some of those taxi drivers were hired without a back ground on their criminal or medical records. There are many cases of rapes and murder committed by Korean taxi drivers.
If you are first timers or have been away from the SK for a long time and coming back pretty soon, make sure that you do not take cab from the Incheon Airport. Alwasy take a limousine bus or have some one from you base pick you up.
In the city, if you need take a taxi, it’s okay during the day time, but at night, generally, take a taxi with orange color or a personal taxi… called gaein taxi.. a private business taxi owned by the driver. That makes for a more responsible person driving. Not all company taxi drivres are crack pots but consider them all to be a “potential” criminals. Be on guard…
7:20 pm on November 5th, 2011 4
And always take seat in the back of the drivers… if you feel like the driver is taking detour, make sure you call some one up and ask …. If you don’t know anyone, then there is a call service for foreigners. You should check out Korea tourism office.
7:43 pm on November 5th, 2011 5
By way of comparison: The average sentence for rape in Canada is 3.85 years and 6 years in the US. The maximum in Canada is 10 years for non-violent rape, 14 years for violent, and life in prison for aggravated sexual assault. The maximum sentence permitted by law upon conviction for rape in the United States is life imprisonment. Marijuana laws in Canada and USA institute punishments that equal, and in many cases exceed, the punishments for rape and other violent crimes.
Marijuana sentences in the US vary significantly from state to state. Here are some examples for simple possession:
Texas: 180 days to 99 years
Florida: 1 to 15 years
Utah: 6 months to 15 years
Missouri: 1 year to life
California: less than 1 oz $100 fine; 6 months maximum for more than 1 oz
7:48 pm on November 5th, 2011 6
Also worthy of note:
Victims’ report of time of rapes and sexual assaults, 1993 (US):
Time Percentage
6 p.m.-midnight 43.4%
Daytime (6 a.m.-6 p.m.) 33.0%
Midnight-6 a.m. 23.6%
So according to statistical data, the curfew hours are when the least rapes occur.
12:42 am on November 6th, 2011 7
Hell yeah, it was unfair.
He should’ve been demoted to PV2, dishonorably discharged and serve 25 years in a South Korean prison cell.
Better than the alternative, which would’ve been five years in a U.S. Army stockade.
12:44 am on November 6th, 2011 8
I find your over-reliance on facts to be emotionally disturbing.
I need some feel-good knee-jerk reactions to comfort myself.
5:08 pm on November 6th, 2011 9
It’s complete horsesh!t, the S&S is just trying to smooth things over.
For the Korean raping the US Soldier in a bathroom
“We also took into consideration the fact that Ju is a first-time offender, and committed his crime unintentionally after drinking and regrets his wrongdoings”
So because he was “sorry” and was “drunk” he gets off easy.
For the piece of sh!t GI,
“However, on Tuesday when Pvt. Kevin Lee Flippin, 21, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the Sept. 24 rape of a 17-year-old Korean girl, Park said the defendant’s state of intoxication would not be considered because of the severity of the crime.”
PoS GI also said he was “sorry” and was “drunk” to which the judge refused to accept as a valid excuse.
So it’s ok for a Korean to be drunk and do stupid things, but it’s not ok for a foreigner to be drunk and do stupid things.
Even taking into account the fact that the PoS GI did some pretty fcked up things, it still doesn’t make any logical sense.
What we’re seeing here is the Korean courts do a dog and pony show for the public so they can tar and feather some evil “foreigner” prior to an election. The judge’s look good for standing up for Korea’s pride. At least he’ll get a fair shake out of the appeals panel.
Now I’m not defending him, he’s a PoS and I wish he’d rot in hell for what he did. But fair’s fair. The Korean man should of been sentenced to 6 years no questions. That 3.5 year sentence will be suspended on appeal with credit for time served. The Korean basically gets to walk away free.
1:56 am on November 7th, 2011 10
9. I think you missed the point. Ju committed his crime unintentionally! He just kinda feel on her and she got raped! You must appreciate the unique circumstances and make special consideration.
9:29 am on November 7th, 2011 11
#9 and #10 are complete BS.
The GI confined and raped the girl, then stuck a pen in her vagina with extreme threats of murder, the brutality was far more in length and scale, then the other case.
He certainly does deserve a far more time.
Another factor in the case, unfortunately for the scum GI, his case came right after the movie “Dogani”, which lead to mandatory harsher sentences for sexual abuses of children, disabled, and women – which the law was passed just before his sentencing.
Tough luck, GI. You picked the wrong time to rape and brutalize an underaged teen girl for several hours, just as the public was in an outraged mood and the law was changed just for guys like this.
You guys can say it’s all unfair all you you luck, but won’t change the fact that he’ll be serving his time in a hotel with SOFA perks that Korean prisoners never get.
5:52 pm on November 7th, 2011 12
@10,
Ahh completely forgot that happens sometimes. I mean just last week walking around I nearly feel down on someone myself. Seriously you can’t walk 20 feet without tripping on some girl trying to get raped. How dangerous these times are <.<
8:34 pm on November 15th, 2011 13
Just to say ive dated pfc flippin. I know him better than all of you posting on this and i know what he told me about this. Kevin has been unevenly convicted. I honestly want to see proof that he even raped this girl. With btw she was not underaged see was found to be 18 age is different. In korea than america
8:39 pm on November 15th, 2011 14
If you do not know the actual details in this case. Then shut your bloody mouth and get off the post board.
11:18 pm on November 15th, 2011 15
What is “unevenly convicted”? Is that like unfairly convicted? Or, unjustly convicted?
He admitted it in court and tried to apologize for it. Did he say he was forced to do that? Did he say that wasn’t him on the video in the hallway? Did he say he never touched the girls? Did he have an explanation for her bruises and burns?
Whatever he said, he sure has you convinced, because no one you would ever date could possibly ever do something like that.
Maybe you’re just lucky you dated him and didn’t have a drunken later night encounter with him.
BTW. She was first reported as 18 in a Korean news article, which would be 17 or even possibly 16 in American age.
11:29 pm on November 15th, 2011 16
No its not impossible I did not say that im say it’d unfair yes it is very possible but he called me and we talked and he told me his side. I dont know about korea but in london and america dna is proof. I was raped. By a milatary meber. So yes its possible. And bruises and burns can be from more than a being raped. And normally a case would invole investi this case from the dat it happened litterally took two months for him to go to trail and be sentenced. It took three yrs for the invertigation for my case to go to trail. I just feel the trial was un fair and there isnt enough shown evedence to convict him. I know him and at the time his emotional. State was unstable. So yes it is possible i just think there should be more evidence. And time to investigate
2:54 am on November 16th, 2011 17
“just think there should be more evidence. And time to investigate”
I agree.
This needs a lot of further investigation.
There may have been no rape or anything even close.
Based on evidence the hurried investigation probably overlooked, the bruises are likely a result of the “student” engaging in violent activity like illegal streetfighting and the burns could easily come from running a small meth lab in her apartment.
A more detailed analysis of the video by more qualified investigators will probably show that Kevin simply went there to use the bathroom or ask directions and was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Kevin, trying to be a gentleman, certainly didn’t want to see this girl in any trouble and concocted a confession to focus attention away from her illegal activities without realizing the long-term consequences to himself. Real investigators spending the correct amount of time would quickly question where he got a knife, scissors, and a lighter. And they wouldn’t just take an easy explanation for an answer.
There also might be an angle that she paid him the 5000 won for violent sex but was ashamed about it later. His pride forced him to claim that he was a sadistic rapist instead of the much less tough label of gigolo.
There are a lot of holes, loose ends, and unexplored avenues here.
And it takes a great deal of courage on Danielle’s part to get a lot of closed-minded people to consider putting true time and effort into finding the real truth.
4:52 am on November 16th, 2011 18
Well no there a difference from close minded people and just plain dumbasses who do not understand the right to a fair trail and honestly another point he shouldnt have been sentenced in korea it the u.s embassy had a damn bit of respect for it country this case would have had a chance at a fair trial. The embassy couldnt step forward for more than to apologize for a soldiers. Wronge doings. I honestly find it simply wrong to have gave a korean rapist. Whom raped a woman in her late teens 3.5 years and pfc flippin 10 honestly i feel theres is rasism in the judges look of sentencing. The trails were held 12 days apart wiith the same judges. But i guess in that country loyalty and honesty and a fair trial mean nothing. I havent once said i feel this didnt happen if you read my comments ive said it is possible but its not in the tabliods in america. And i dont speak koean. So i can understand the tabloids from there.
5:38 am on November 16th, 2011 19
And i dont speak koean.
What language do you speak? I think Google translate is doing you an injustice.
6:33 am on November 16th, 2011 20
Not sure who is funnier. CH or Leon? CH you finished that script yet? I can see a new subplot.
6:36 am on November 16th, 2011 21
the Status Of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between ROK-US gives primary jurisdiction to the Korean legal system in all cases, EXCEPT if (1) the soldier is on official duty, (2) the crime is against another soldier, dependent, or civilian component of US Armed Forces, or (3) the crime is only an offense under the US laws, not the Korean laws.
So, here, the soldier’s case involved an off-post incident and a korean national. The SOFA, again–an agreement between the US government and ROK government, kicked in and the Korean courts got the first “bite” at the case. If the Korean court’s wanted to waive primary jurisdiction, they could have. But they chose to retain, thus, the US gave custody of the soldier to Korea and to be tried in Korean courts, under Korean law.
Keep in mind, as required by the SOFA, in an instance like this, a soldier receives free defense counsel, paid for by the US. The defense counsel that a soldier may receive is one of a few hand-picked Korean lawyers and the Soldier’s case is scrupulously watched and reported on by US lawyers to ensure a fair trial. Also, there is a requirement that a translator translate the proceeding.
Just passing on some info.
8:41 am on November 16th, 2011 22
I speak cherokee
8:43 am on November 16th, 2011 23
And all im sayin is that i dnt think the trial was fair.
9:07 am on November 16th, 2011 24
Owa tagu shu-ar.
3:29 pm on November 16th, 2011 25
Cherokee is your first language? When did you start learning English?
Anyway, let me put this simply. Many who post here are former US military and will give the soldier the benefit of the doubt. However, he was caught on camera and confessed. What is unfair? I can assure you, having lived in Korea for quite some time, that he was not mistreated, tortured or coerced into his confession. Also, the Korean did “just” a rape and got about the normal sentence for it, which also happens to be about what he would have gotten in the US in certain states. Your boy, no matter what he told you on the phone, is guilty of aggravated rape, well you’ve read the details… The Koreans and most right thinking people can realize what he did was “worse”.
You think he should have sent to the US? Well, he’s lucky he didn’t end up there. The army probably would have sent him to military prison for 20 years to life.
9:56 pm on November 16th, 2011 26
Hi, I am in 2ID and I am stationed at Camp Casey. I never met this male but I have heard all about this case and I have also lived in Korea for quite awhile. I do not believe he had a fair trial. He clearly states he blacked out and didn’t remember anything his friends left. He only admitted to the crimes and begged for forgiveness after watching the videos and saw that it was him on the videos. There are no videos of him actually raping the girl. No DNA was taken, theres no proof. The girl was 18, yes in the US thats 17 but were not in the US were in Korea so it’s not considered underage. I have read articles in Korean newspapers saying Koreans exaggerate crimes, who’s to say this is any different? I actually read an article this week in the newspaper of 4 Korean men gang raping a 12 year old Korean girl in an alley and only being sentenced to 3 years each in prison but I guess 4 men attacking a 12 year old, taking turns raping her isn’t violent enough to receive a harsher punishment? When your a foreigner, you aren’t going to have a fair trial in a different country. They are always going to favor there own people just like #25 I may be giving the soldier the benefit of the doubt.
10:07 pm on November 16th, 2011 27
Thank you 26 andim not sorry in any way to say i agree i have met pfc flippin and known him years and was engaged to him i know what he said happened and if it were to have gone to trial in the US or threw osi and the base. It woulda had more invesitgation. I know milatray members mainly post on this no. Im not milat ary. But i just finnished a trail in january against a member and it was a rape case. Dont think i dont understand the law. And even in most states in the us 17 is legal. Even tho 18 is legal for milatary the trail even if i didnt know the private it was unjust.
10:38 pm on November 16th, 2011 28
your welcome 27 but thats just my belief. Many military personal are are not giving pfc flippin the benefit of the doubt. From my experience Korean’s seem against the military even before pfc flippin’s case. I said it before I didn’t know him, were at a big post theres many soldiers here. I don’t know if he did it or not but what
i do know is he didn’t have a proper trail. It is unjust. I can honestly say I have blacked out from drinking alcohol and didn’t remember what I did.
10:42 pm on November 16th, 2011 29
I also know here if a Korean walks up to me and punches me in the face and I defend myself and hit them back.
I will be fined and arrested while nothing will happen to the Korean. I have seen it happen plenty of times. It’s not fair nor will it be fair.
11:17 pm on November 16th, 2011 30
In the history of… of… history, seldom have women defended a violent rapist with this much enthusiasm.
It is hard to know what to make of it all.
…especially coming from a “victim” of rape…
…as they generally have an even dimmer view of the entire practice than a member of the general female population…
…or at least the ones that didn’t bring it on themselves by getting drunk with a bunch of military guys and then screaming rape when her friends started giggling about her waking up next to the biggest loser of the bunch… and then finding themselves caught up as a witness in the legal system and unable to back down from their original spontaneous claims made without any long-term thinking.
While guys around here frequently debate the validity of a lot of very suspect rape claims… much to the condemnation of women who insist it is a black and white issue… there seems to be nothing to debate here.
The victim was not all tarted up and hanging with a bunch of horny guys all night flashing her boobies and joking about funking and sucking. She didn’t go to a guy’s room at 2am and drunkenly climb naked into his bed with vague mumblings of “just friends”. She didn’t go from first base to third and then change her mind when he got the head it. And, after a night of consensual passion, she didn’t suddenly claim rape when her boyfriend or husband found out.
The victim was a 17 year-old girl minding her own business, alone in her own home… and no matter how you present it, this is very much underage… for rape.
Further, it was not just rape. There were hours of torture, too.
What kind of sick funk tortures a 17 year-old girl after breaking into her house and screwing her? Is this defensible in any way?
And, then, he stole her five bucks.
That is like a great big cherry of azzhole on top of a drippy shyt sundae.
And three women have come here to defend it… or at least try to make it seem like it wasn’t really That Big of a Deal… and this poor guy got too harsh of punishment… although this 17 year-old girl got a life sentence… for nothing except being young and female.
If anyone wants to defend rape and “rapists”, there are plenty of guys caught up with professional skanks, serial sluts, predatory players, and aggressive barracks hoes.
But there is nothing to defend here.
Women, you disgrace yourselves.
12:55 am on November 17th, 2011 31
Jessica- where do you loiter about to witness these cross-cultural punchings-in-the-face?
I can suggest some better neighborhoods for you to visit in your off time. At this rate, you’ll leave Korea with PTSD!
4:37 am on November 17th, 2011 32
No one said this female flashed her boobs, got drunk, was hanging out with guys, or whatever you have said. No one accused her of anything of the such.
And if anything someone who has been raped should have the right to be upset because guarantee their rapist did not get punished like this. Actually, read the article it even says it there.
That’s exactly the stuff I’m saying though if I was raped and tortuted I’m pretty sure 5 dollars would never cross my mind. Who just gets raped and then worries if the 5 dollars they had in their wallet got stolen?
How exactly am I disgracing myself? I have my own opinon and you have yours. It shouldn’t matter if I’m a male of female.
What your saying is females who do go out with males till 2am, hang out in their rooms and flash boobs should be raped or don’t get raped? Your wrong buddy. All I’m saying is both foreigners and Koreans prosecuted for their wrong doings the same. Favoritism shouldn’t be shown and that’s not the case.
And Vince have you been to dongducheon, uijeongbu, itaewon? The list can go on these are not nice places and I’m not quite sure why a Korean girl would be sitting in her house with the door unlocked by herself? I sure dont here or in the states but I guess that’s just me.
12:59 pm on November 17th, 2011 33
30 first of all who the fuxx are you. To put qotes on the word. Victim. Do you know me.. no i think not and sorry a grown mature woman who come to ends with her particular case that woman may not be out to get all men in this world. And to say somebody who doesnt know her want to jump in a say i should be siding with the woman sorry sir. But two facts here. One:im not siding with a woman who the only proof is a video of this pfc.in the hall is there proofof breaking and entering. Is there dna proof of this rape. GShow me the proof show me and the other women you say are disgracing themselves this case is/was fair. And im sure we all will back down with out problem two: the sentece was unjust it is a black and white. Because it the pfc was a korean man he would only be serving 3.5 yr
4:03 pm on November 17th, 2011 34
Well Chickenhead, the #28 Jessica has “blacked out from drinking”, so what’s that tell you about her? Well, she is probably pretty popular in the barracks, nuff said bout her! Might even be one of the many who keep the clinic stocked full of STD supplies! And this Danielle chick? Just a disgruntled wannabee who probably isn’t getting any or might even be attracted to the same sex. Immature, both of them, and for the one who supposedly dated Mr. Flippin, obviously she wasn’t worth keepin cuz Flippin got to steppin! Maybe these two should hook up and poor hot wax on each others nipples?? Hey #28, wanna go out and drink?? Ha! ya gots to be one nasty piece of flesh walkin round Korea cuz you sound like a dud! Chickenhead is right on top of it!
11:57 pm on November 18th, 2011 35
dear MrEvidence, because I have drank alcohol and blacked out doesn’t mean I sleep with people in the barracks. I wish you knew me because it’d the exact opposite but your self on the other hand is an ignorant piece of shit. If anyone is immature here i think it’s the two people referring to themselves as “chickenhead and Mrevidence,” and I quote wrote “Maybe these two should hook up and poor hot wax on each others nipples??.” Let me think of a mature adult who has ever said that? what’s that tell us about you? your an embarrassment.
1:41 am on November 19th, 2011 36
Flippin confessed.
Flippin copped a plea for aggravated rape. i.e. He confessed that he burnt and tortured the girl.
90% of cases in the USA are concluded by plea bargaining instead of trial by jury.
7:24 am on November 19th, 2011 37
Why is it that whenever GI Korea posts a trial about a private random females who know the perpetrator show up to defend him that look like they are sending text messages from the third world? I wish I could check the historic IP addresses for these chicks…
8:11 am on November 19th, 2011 38
MrEvidence,
I am afraid that I must agree with Jessica.
Your “hot wax” comment crossed the line of good tastes and cannot be defended.
If you choose to comment here and wish to fit in with the community, you must adhere to certain standards.
For support and agreement with your ideas concerning breasts, please refrain from insulting comments and perverse innuendo…
…and try burning them with a lighter after a couple solid hours of brutal rape.
If you do that, you will be defended, your ideas will be championed, and those against you will be savagely attacked by a horde of acid-tongued female admirers fighting some sort of vaguely perceived injustice in your name.
But if you joke of hot wax, you will get called an embarrassing and ignorant immature piece of shyt.
I hope you now have a better understanding of what you are dealing with and you will make efforts to conform to the wishes and values of society.
4:03 pm on February 1st, 2012 39
5:43 pm on February 1st, 2012 40
The issue we are trying to justify in our minds (maybe not the 2 dinky broads)is, the unbelievable light sentencing by foreign country’s judicial systems for violent crimes we punish severely in America.
Flippy is er..was a soldier 24/7, hopefully after he comes home the Army will throw him in Leavenworth for life! Wait!! I got an idea, take him straight to Gitmo, he can spoon everynight with a Taliban who enjoys burning nipples and a golden shower at night to put it out.