Prosecutors Investigate Additional Sexual Exploitation Allegations Against Jo Joo-bin of the 'Baksa Room' Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Jo Joo-bin, who was sentenced to 42 years in prison for producing child sexual exploitation materials and distributing them on the Telegram ‘Baksa Bang’, is reportedly under investigation by prosecutors for evidence of committing another sexual exploitation crime.

According to the legal community on the 6th, the Women and Children Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Eun-mi) discovered evidence that Jo sexually exploited another female victim besides the previously known victims in 2019 and is currently investigating the case.

Jo, along with ‘Buddha’ Kang Hoon (21), was additionally indicted and is on trial for coercing three female victims in 2019 to take nude photos and receiving them (charges of forced molestation). Prosecutors believe Jo committed forced molestation against another victim using a similar method.

The additional criminal circumstances involving Jo were revealed during a continuation of the first trial for forced molestation charges against Jo and Kang, presided over by Judge Lee Kyung-rin of Criminal Division 22 at the Seoul Central District Court that afternoon. Jo’s defense requested the court to "consolidate the ongoing related investigation at the prosecution with this case for trial."

Jo was sentenced to 42 years in prison by the Supreme Court last October for coercing dozens of female victims, including children and adolescents, from May 2019 to February 2020 to produce sexual exploitation materials, which he then sold and distributed through ‘Baksa Bang’ (violations of the Child and Youth Protection Act, forced molestation, fraud, etc.).