'Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon Sentenced to Prison in First Trial, Appeal Hearing Postponed Due to Witness No-show'

Singer Jung Joon-young (31, left) and former FT Island member Choi Jong-hoon (30, right), who were sentenced to prison in the first trial on charges including gang rape / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] The appeal trial of singer Jung Joon-young (31) and former FT Island member Choi Jong-hoon (30), who were indicted on charges of gang rape and sentenced to prison in the first trial, was postponed due to the absence of witnesses.

The second appeal trial for Jung Joon-young, Choi Jong-hoon, and three others, who are accused of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (special rape), was held on the 27th under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul High Court (Chief Judge Yoon Jong-gu).

Originally, the victim witness examination requested by the prosecution was scheduled to proceed on this day, but it was postponed due to the absence of witnesses and other reasons. The trial is scheduled to be held on the 19th of next month.

Earlier, at the appeal trial held on the 4th, Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon stated, "We will contest all claims of excessive sentencing, factual errors, and legal misinterpretations."

The two were brought to trial on charges of gang raping women after intoxicating them in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province in January 2016 and in Daegu in March of the same year, along with members of the so-called 'Jung Joon-young group chat,' including Mr. Heo, Mr. Kwon, and Mr. Kim.

On November 29 last year, the first trial court sentenced Jung Joon-young to six years in prison, ordered him to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program, and imposed a five-year employment restriction at institutions related to children and adolescents.

At that time, the court stated as reasons for sentencing, "The victims, who were intoxicated and unable to resist, were gang-raped, and the pain they must have felt upon later discovering this is severe," but also noted, "However, he has no prior convictions for similar crimes and is showing signs of acknowledging his wrongdoing."

Choi Jong-hoon was sentenced to five years in prison, ordered to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program, given a five-year employment restriction at institutions related to children and adolescents, and placed under probation for three years after the completion of his sentence.

The court noted, "He shows no remorse for his actions of raping the victim," but also stated, "However, he has no prior convictions for similar crimes."

Both appealed the first trial verdict.