[Seocho-dong Legal Talk] 'Illegal Filming and Humiliation of Acquaintance' High School Senior "Mercy for Model Student Before College Entrance..."

501 Cases of Illegal Filming of Female Students' Legs, 'Impersonation of Acquaintances' via Fake SNS Accounts
Defense Lawyer & Homeroom Teacher: "Usually a Model Student with No Issues" vs Prosecution: "Severe Punishment Needed Despite Good Grades"
Victimized Female Students Petition Court for Harsh Punishment Without Settlement

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] "The defendant served as class president and participated in volunteer activities, and is currently a high school senior who has applied for early admission. The college entrance exam is on November 18; how does the homeroom teacher view the defendant's behavior?" (Defense attorney)

"He is diligently preparing for his future while reflecting on his actions and trying to take responsibility." (Witness · Teacher)

On the 6th, in a courtroom on the 5th floor of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Kim (18), a high school senior, stood in the defendant's seat, and his homeroom teacher took the witness stand.

The defense emphasized that Kim was a model student, but he was prosecuted for secretly filming the legs and other body parts of female students sitting in the back seats of a cram school bus a total of 501 times in July 2019, and for defaming one of the victims, Ms. B, by impersonating her and creating a fake social networking service (SNS) account to commit so-called 'jinin-neungyok' (posting victim photos and sexually harassing them). Kim is also accused of downloading a total of 455 sexually exploitative comics featuring children and adolescents from an adult comic website and storing them on his computer.

The defense called the homeroom teacher to court to prove that Kim usually did not cause problems and was a model student preparing for college entrance, appealing for leniency. The homeroom teacher said, "Kim is not a thoughtless friend. If given enough opportunities, he will improve." However, when asked by the judge if there was any particular good deed by the defendant that stood out, the teacher replied, "No," and added that no disciplinary procedures are currently underway at the school.

In his closing argument, the defense attorney said, "The purpose of all criminal punishment is not to exact a price but to give the individual a chance to reestablish themselves as a member of society," and appealed for leniency, saying, "The defendant has parents who love him. Please allow the boy to grow up healthily." Kim also choked up, saying, "I am sorry to the victims who were hurt and to my parents who suffered emotionally."

On the other hand, the prosecutor emphasized, "Although the defendant is a model student with a promising future and leniency is being requested, even if he studies well, he must be severely punished," and added, "The crime period was long, and there were multiple victims." Kim's side continuously tried to reach a settlement with the victims, but ultimately was not forgiven. The victims submitted a petition to the court requesting severe punishment for Kim.

The presiding judge of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 29, Chief Judge Kim Changhyung, who handled the case, concluded the proceedings by saying, "From the perspective of the victims and their parents, this is an enormous harm. It cannot be taken lightly." The sentencing date is set for the 29th.