The Seoul Western District Court’s Criminal Division 4 sentenced A to 1 year and 6 months on August 30th for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (Illegal Filming and Distribution). Due to the risk of flight, A was immediately taken into custody. The court also ordered him to undergo 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and restricted his employment at institutions related to children or disabled people for 3 years.
Previously, during the trial in June, the prosecution requested a 3-year prison sentence for A. They cited reasons including the “serious nature of the defendant’s crime and the victims’ pleas for severe punishment“.
A’s lawyer appealed for leniency, saying, “While the actions were wrong, they occurred in the context of a relationship, and there was no intention to distribute the footage.” On September 4th, A officially filed an appeal through his lawyer.
The court emphasized, “The illegal filming of the victims’ nude bodies causes extreme sexual humiliation, and if such illegal recordings are distributed, they can inflict irreversible harm. Considering the severity of the violation of the victims’ sexual autonomy, the crime is grave.”
The court further noted, “The defendant committed crimes against three victims, all of whom were in relationships with him.” While A made a deposit to two of the victims, they refused it and continued to seek severe punishment. The court also acknowledged that A admitted to and reflected on his crimes, that the footage was not distributed, and that he had no previous record of similar offenses.
From July 2022 to May last year, A was tried for filming his romantic partner, victim B, 18 times while she was blindfolded, capturing intimate acts and private areas. The investigation revealed there were three victims in total, including B.
A debuted as part of an idol group in 2017 but ceased activities in 2019 due to health issues. The group is no longer active.
Source: Nate
