Physio Youngjin Jung sentenced to 3½ years’ jail for groping patients

DISGRACED  Umina Beach physiotherapist Youngjin Jung has been jailed for 3½ years for groping six female patients­.

DISGRACED  Umina Beach physiotherapist Youngjin Jung has been jailed for 3½ years for groping six female patients­.

The 36-year-old was earlier this year found not guilty of one charge of having sexual intercourse without consent with a patient at his Ocean Beach Rd practice in mid-2014.

But he pleaded guilty to seven counts of indecent assault and was sentenced in the Downing Centre District Court yesterday to five years’ jail with a non-parole period of 3½ years.

Physio Youngjin Jung was jailed for groping female patients. Picture Waide Maguire.

“Conduct was not in any way related to therapeutic treatment,” Judge Clive Jeffreys said in handing down his sentence.

“It was undertaken by the offender for sexual gratification­.

“In my view he seriously abused the trust placed in him.”

The court heard Jung, a married father-of-two from South Korea, massaged the breasts, pubic bone area and genitalia of his victims while treating them, often saying it would assist them in their recoveries.

“Your muscles are tight due to injury,” he said to one victim with a hand planted on each of her breasts.

He asked another victim if she would like a private “full body massage” for $50 and whether she had recently “had fun” with any men.

For another, he held his finger against her pubic bone as she was asked to perform pelvic floor exercises.

Physio Youngjin Jung arriving at court at an earlier appearance. Picture Waide Maguire.

In victim impact statements, Jung’s patients said they felt numb and scared as a result of his actions.

One “cried her eyes out” after a session in which Jung massaged her breasts and touched her genitalia.

“Patients obtaining treatment have to trust healthcare professionals,” Judge Jeffreys said.

“Most patients would understandably feel it was against their interests to not follow orders.”

The judge said Jung’s position of trust as a physiotherapist necessitated “stern retribution”.

He said Jung’s lawyer’s arguments that he was depressed, working 70 hours a week and caring for his one-year-old daughter and unwell pregnant wife were not enough to affect the totality of his criminality.

The judge said he was also “not persuaded” by Jung’s lawyer’s argument he would have cultural difficulties while in prison and rejected the argument he should take into account that Jung had his physiotherapist licence cancelled and had been working as a cleaner,

“He appeared to have no problem expressing himself in English before me,” he said.

Jung wept quietly at his sentence having apologised at a sentencing hearing late last month.

“I’m really sorry to all six ladies and their families,” Jung said.

“I want to apologise for what I did. There’s no excuse about it.”

Taking time already served the physiotherapist will be eligible for release on August 22, 2019.