University Student Sentenced to 4 Years in First Trial for Sexual Relations with Minor

The Court "Shows Cunning by Making the Victim Act as if They Lied About Their Age"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A university student who had sexual relations with a minor was sentenced to four years in prison.

On the 24th, the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court, 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Jeon Gyeong-ho), sentenced A (26), who was detained and indicted on charges including statutory rape of a minor, to four years in prison.

Additionally, A was ordered to disclose information via information and communication networks for five years, face employment restrictions at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities for seven years each, and wear an electronic location tracking device for six years.

A was tried on charges of having sexual intercourse with B (then 13 years old), whom he met through SNS last October, on the rooftop of an apartment, and forcibly molesting her in the elevator.

In preparation for possible punishment for having sexual relations with a minor, he made B read a pre-prepared script in which she showed her resident registration card and introduced herself as an adult, and he also threatened B’s parents by playing the recording, warning that the victim could also be punished.

The court stated, "Considering the victim’s appearance and testimony in court, it is absolutely difficult to accept the claim that the defendant did not know the victim was a minor," and pointed out, "The defendant, who is enrolled in a prestigious university and recognized as a so-called elite student, should have a high sense of social responsibility and ethics, but he showed cunning by making the victim act as if she had lied about her age."

Furthermore, the court explained the sentencing reason: "Even considering this is the defendant’s first offense, since he betrayed the expectation of using his cultivated intellect for the public good and caused harm, it is necessary to impose a more severe punishment commensurate with the guilt."