SGT Han Back in the News

SGT Han the CRC soldier convicted and sent to Korean prison for cheating on his wife and lieing to his mistress may have his prison sentence reduced if he can pay off his mistress:

After a U.S. soldier in trouble for his relationships with two Korean women offered a $21,500 payment to his wife, a South Korean judge dropped one of two charges against him.

Sgt. Jin-hong Han, an American, pleaded guilty in December to adultery and breaching a promise of marriage.

He was in Uijeongbu District Court on Friday to be sentenced on an appeal decision from Chief Judge Bae Jun-hyun. Han had appealed his sentence, saying he felt remorse for his actions and didn’t realize he was breaking local laws.

The judge dropped the adultery charge after hearing of Han’s settlement offer to his wife.

But Han told the judge that he has yet to find his ex-girlfriend to offer her a similar settlement, a common action common in South Korean criminal cases that can lessen a defendant’s final jail sentence.

What does the mistress think of this?:

Have you ever made any contacts with Kim Hyo-jin? the judge asked Han of his former girlfriend.

Ues, I have, Han said. But I wasn’t able to get through to her. I think that she is not in Korea.

So before issuing a final decision on Han’s current 10-month sentence, the judge gave Han two more weeks, postponing his sentencing until May 26.

Stripes, however, was able to contact Kim on Friday at a telephone number she said she’s used for years. She said she has not heard from Han.

He never intended to make any settlement with him; I never will, Kim told Stripes. Even if he would offer me billions and billions [of] won. I cannot forgive him because he completely destroyed my life and my future.

It looks like SGT Han better get used to jail for a little while longer.