Sex Crime Specialist Lawyer "Shocked in Many Ways"
"Recording Alone Is Not Enough... Direct Evidence Needed"
"If Frequent, Even First Offense Hard to Defer Prosecution"
Choi Min-hwan of the group FT Island has been embroiled in a prostitution controversy following revelations by his ex-wife Yulhee, and a lawyer specializing in sex crimes has shared their opinion on the matter.
On the 30th, lawyer Lee Go-eun appeared via phone on YTN Radio's "Wise Radio Life" and referred to the recorded conversation containing suspicions of Choi Min-hwan's involvement in prostitution. She said, "It is somewhat shocking in various aspects," adding, "In the case of entertainment establishments, hiring hostesses is legal. For it to be considered prostitution, there must be sexual intercourse or sexual acts involving the exchange of money, which usually take place not at bars but later at lodging facilities."
She continued, "Considering the 2 million won that Choi Min-hwan said he would deposit, the level of entertainment is questionable," but explained, "It is difficult to prove that prostitution was completed based solely on the recording, so direct evidence is necessary." Additionally, she said, "Listening to the recording, I felt that Choi Min-hwan is very familiar with this kind of entertainment culture," and added, "If it is proven that prostitution occurred and happened multiple times, even if it is a first offense, it would be difficult to receive a suspension of indictment. There is a high possibility of receiving at least a fine." Furthermore, she noted, "If a divorce lawsuit ensues, it could be considered a breach of the couple's duty of fidelity, which could be a sufficient cause for fault and work very unfavorably against Choi Min-hwan." The lawyer also addressed the incident where Choi Min-hwan touched Yulhee's body parts. She said, "Basically, rape or sexual assault charges can be established even between spouses," but added, "However, the scope of consent is broader between spouses, so it is difficult to recognize."
Earlier, on the 24th, Yulhee claimed her ex-husband Choi Min-hwan's involvement in prostitution through a YouTube video, stating, "About a year before the divorce, a major incident occurred, and from that point, our married life changed 180 degrees." She explained, "(Choi Min-hwan) touched my body in front of family members and even put money here (on my chest)," adding, "How would someone that age know about such establishments? Later, I realized that such drunken behavior was a habit." Toward the end of the video, she also released a recorded phone conversation from July to August 2022 between Choi Min-hwan and a man identified as Mr. A. In the recording, Choi Min-hwan says to Mr. A, "They say there are no girls here today," "You need to pay 2.3 million won from last time, so send me the account number," and "Can you book a hotel we can go to now? A motel is fine too," raising suspicions of prostitution and putting him under scrutiny.
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