Pohang City Job and Economy Bureau Handles Youth-Related Tasks
Pohang City Takes Preemptive Suspension Measures Before Prosecutor Referral
A public official in his 40s at Pohang City Hall, responsible for youth-related affairs, who watched and possessed obscene materials featuring minors
On the 9th, Yonhap News reported, "The Cyber Investigation Unit of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency sent Mr. A, a public official in his 40s at Pohang City Hall, to prosecution without detention on charges of possessing and watching obscene materials featuring children and adolescents (violation of the Youth Protection Act)." Mr. A is suspected of downloading and watching obscene materials featuring minors on the internet using his computer at home around mid-February. According to the police investigation, it was revealed that Mr. A stored about 150 obscene materials, including videos of naked children and sexual exploitation materials.
Mr. A had been in charge of youth-related affairs at the Pohang City Job and Economy Bureau but was suspended from his position as of April 22. The Pohang City authorities stated, "We judged the matter to be serious and suspended him from his position before the police sent the case to the prosecution," adding, "He was not assigned any other duties and was placed on standby in his office."
Under the Youth Protection Act, possessing or watching obscene materials featuring children or adolescents is punishable. According to Article 11, Paragraph 5 of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (Youth Protection Act), anyone who purchases, possesses, or watches child or adolescent sexual exploitation materials shall be punished by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 20 million won.
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