Woman charged with rape in South Korea

Inside the house where alleged rape took place

SEOUL (KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A woman in her 40s has been indicted on charges of attempting to rape a man after drugging him, becoming the first woman to be charged for such an offence in South Korean history.

Up until June 2013, Korean law did not acknowledge women as rapists, which meant it was not possible for male victims to file complaints to the police.

This is also the first time a woman was arrested for sexually abusing a man.

The 45-year-old divorcee, identified only by her surname Jeon, was indicted last month, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul said Thursday. She faces another charge of attacking the man with a blunt instrument.

According to the prosecution, the two started dating in 2011 after meeting at a bicycle club. The man, who was already married with children, tried to end the relationship in July last year but agreed to meet one last time at her house, JoongAng Ilbo reported.

When he turned up, Jeon allegedly gave him a cup of tea spiked with sleeping pills, telling him that it was good for his fractured hand.

She then stripped him, tied him up and tried to have sex with him, but he suddenly woke up.

When he tried to escape, she allegedly struck him with a hammer, saying that "Everything is over, I'm going to kill you", according to Korea Times.

If found guilty of rape, Jeon faces a minimum of three years in prison.

The law was revised in June 2013 to protect rape victims who are not women. This includes transgenders.