Defense Attorney: "He Has Lived Only for Baseball Since He Was 10"
First Trial Sentences Suspended Prison Term...Prosecution Seeks 6 Years Imprisonment
Former Lotte Giants pitcher Seo Jun-won, who was sentenced to probation in the first trial for demanding nude photos from minors and producing sexual exploitation materials, pleaded for leniency in the appellate court, saying he would "live a life of atonement."
On the 5th, Yonhap News reported that the Busan High Court Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Park Jun-yong) held a sentencing hearing for Seo, who was indicted for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse (production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials). In his final statement, Seo said, "I am truly sorry to the parents and students who were harmed by my wrongful actions." He continued, "I want to live diligently in society again to regain the trust of my family and others," and appealed to the court for leniency, saying, "I will reflect and atone for my actions for the rest of my life and live generously."
Seo's lawyer said, "He has lived only for baseball since he was 10 years old, but recently he was released from his team, is unable to raise his son after divorce, and has reached a settlement with the victim, so please take these into consideration." He also stated, "The defendant fully acknowledges his guilt and is currently making efforts, including actively participating in volunteer work."
The prosecution requested the court to sentence Seo to six years in prison, arguing that the first trial's sentence was too lenient.
Seo is accused of receiving nude photos from a minor he met through a KakaoTalk open chat room in August 2022, producing sexual exploitation materials, and coercing obscene acts. Knowing the victim was a minor, he sent sexual messages 60 times, forced the victim to take body photos seven times, received them, and produced sexual exploitation materials.
In the first trial held in September last year, Seo was sentenced to three years in prison with five years of probation. During the probation period, on May 31 at 12:30 a.m., Seo was booked for driving under the influence after crashing into a taxi waiting at a traffic light at an intersection in Gaegum-dong, Busanjin-gu. At the time of the accident, Seo's blood alcohol concentration was reportedly at the level for license suspension (0.03% or higher but less than 0.08%).
Seo, who received the Choi Dong-won Award given to the best high school pitcher and was known as the "future of Lotte" for throwing fastballs in the 150 km/h range as a sidearm pitcher, has been expelled from the Korea Professional Baseball Association after it was revealed that he committed sexual crimes against minors.
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