Over 2 Years, Forced Prostitution 850 Times... 'Evil Pojoo Siblings' Plead for Leniency in Court, Receive Suspended Sentence

The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A brother and sister who forced a female employee into prostitution over 850 times in two years were sentenced to probation and fines.

The Jeju District Court Criminal Division 3 (Presiding Judge Kim Yeon-kyung) on the 11th sentenced Ms. A (39, female) to 1 year and 6 months in prison with 3 years probation and a fine of 30 million KRW for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (prostitution mediation) and other charges. Her accomplice, her older brother Mr. B (44), was sentenced to 1 year in prison with 3 years probation and a fine of 15 million KRW. The court also ordered each of them to perform 100 hours of community service.

According to the prosecution's charges, the siblings operated a nightlife bar in Seogwipo City, Jeju, from September 2018 to August last year, mediating prostitution for female employees 852 times. They obtained the employees' home addresses, contact information, and family details, then forced them into prostitution, threatening them with phrases such as "It's useless to run away" and "Those who ran away were all sent to prison."

In particular, it was investigated that they stocked male erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra at the establishment and provided them to customers.

Mr. B mainly transported female employees by car to places where clients were waiting. He also embezzled part of the prostitution profits into his own account.

At the sentencing hearing in June, the siblings admitted to the charges and pleaded for leniency, stating they would focus on running a newly opened karaoke bar and working in an orchard.

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "Considering that the two defendants likely gained substantial profits by mediating prostitution over a long period, a heavy fine is imposed," but also noted, "The fact that the defendants confessed and showed remorse, and that they have no prior records of similar crimes, are favorable circumstances."