Sexual Relations with a 12-Year-Old Met via Open Chat in a Room Cafe and Vehicle... Another Suspended Sentence

Court: "Acknowledging and Reflecting"

A man who had multiple sexual encounters with a 12-year-old girl he met through open chat at a room cafe and in a vehicle was sentenced to probation.

On the 3rd, the 1st Criminal Division of the Jinju Branch of Changwon District Court (Presiding Judge Park Seong-man) sentenced Mr. A, who was tried on charges of statutory rape of a minor under the Criminal Act, to 2 years in prison with 3 years of probation. He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures and was banned from employment at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities for 5 years.

In May 2021, Mr. A took Ms. B, whom he met through open chat, to a room cafe where he made physical contact and had sexual intercourse. Two days later, he had sexual intercourse with Ms. B once again at the same room cafe. Two months later, in July, Mr. A took Ms. B to his private car and had sexual intercourse again in the back seat.

The prosecution referred Mr. A to the court on charges of having sexual intercourse three times with Ms. B, who was under 13 years old, a minor. The court pointed out, "The crime is very serious and highly blameworthy as adult Mr. A committed the acts against Ms. B, a child under 13 years old who is still physically and mentally immature and whose awareness and values regarding sex have not been established."

However, the court also stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "Mr. A admitted to the crime and is remorseful," and "Ms. B and her guardian do not want Mr. A to be punished, and Mr. A has no prior criminal record."

Recently, there have been criticisms that sexual crimes against minors occurring at room cafes have repeatedly resulted in probation sentences. In November last year, the Seoul Eastern District Court sentenced Mr. C, who met a minor through social networking services (SNS), took her to a room cafe by saying "Let's watch a movie," and forcibly engaged in quasi-sexual acts, to 2 years and 6 months in prison with 3 years of probation.

Also, in September last year, the Pyeongtaek Branch of Suwon District Court sentenced Mr. D, who was accused of raping a minor who expressed refusal at a room cafe, to 6 months in prison with 3 years of probation.

Meanwhile, it was previously revealed that some variant businesses using the name "room cafe" actually operate similarly to motels, causing shock. A room cafe is a facility that rents rooms equipped with TVs, PCs, karaoke machines, etc. Since adolescents can use these without much restriction, some room cafes have been used as entertainment venues, raising concerns.

According to the 2020 "Survey on Youth Media Use and Harmful Environment," the usage rates of youth-harmful establishments were 14.4% for multi-rooms and room cafes, 2.0% for video rooms, and 1.6% for lodging establishments accompanied by the opposite sex.