20s Public Official Stalked Victim After Filing Complaint Against 'Sex Crime Shaman Father'

Repeated Messages Sent to Woman Who Accused Shaman Father
Current National Public Official... Will Lose Job if Probation Confirmed

A public official in his 20s working for the national government was sentenced to probation after stalking a victim who had filed a complaint against his father and committing secondary harm. The man's father is a shaman who is known to have sexually assaulted and molested over 20 women under the pretense of exorcism rituals.

The shaman, Mr. A, committed his crimes between 2019 and 2021 at his shrine in Seogwipo City. He targeted women who were introduced through acquaintances or found via internet searches, persuading them with statements such as “A ghost is attached to your uterus” and “If you do not perform the exorcism ritual, your family will die.”

The number of victims reached around 20, mostly women in psychologically unstable conditions. At the time, the case was widely publicized through the media, sparking public outrage.

Ultimately, Mr. A was sentenced to five years in prison by the Supreme Court last year. However, even after several years, some victims are reported to still suffer from psychological distress caused by the sexual crimes.

Moreover, Mr. A’s son in his 20s, Mr. B, stalked the victim who filed the complaint against his father by approaching her and contacting her multiple times, committing secondary harm.

Mr. B is known to have sent messages such as “I received your complaint well” and “File all the complaints you can” via KakaoTalk to the victim who filed the complaint against Mr. A, sending messages and making calls seven times in total.

Even after the court imposed restrictions prohibiting Mr. B from approaching within 100 meters of the victim’s residence and contacting her via mobile phone, he contacted the victim again and sent messages containing abusive language.

Accordingly, the Jeju District Court Criminal Division 2 sentenced Mr. B, who was tried for violating the Stalking Punishment Act, to eight months in prison with a two-year probation. The court stated the sentencing reasons as follows: “He was not forgiven by the victim, made no particular efforts to restore the damage, and committed the crime boldly even after the provisional measures were decided.”

If the probation sentence confirmed in the first trial is finalized, Mr. B, a national public official, will lose his position.