Men in Their 20s Who Raped Teens Met on "Depression Gallery" Receive Heavy Sentences Again on Appeal

Sentenced to 7?8 Years in Prison, Same as the First Trial

Two men in their twenties, who were indicted on charges of raping a minor they met through the "Depression Gallery" on the DC Inside online community, have received heavy sentences again in their second trial.

Depression Gallery on DC Inside. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News on September 23, the Criminal Division 1 of the Incheon District Branch of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Jung Seungkyu) sentenced Mr. A (age 23) to eight years in prison, the same as the first trial, in the appellate verdict for charges including quasi-rape under the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse. The court also sentenced Mr. B (age 26), who was indicted for rape under the same law, to seven years in prison, matching the sentence from the first trial.

The court stated, "It is difficult to find any cases where the original judgment was wrong," and added, "No new factors for sentencing have been found." Previously, another accomplice, Mr. C (age 23), was also tried for acts including quasi-sexual intercourse under the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse, received an eight-year prison sentence in the first trial, and had his appeal dismissed.

From December 2023 to April last year, these three individuals were charged with having sexual intercourse or engaging in similar sexual acts with four middle and high school students, including victim Ms. D, at officetels and multi-family residences in Incheon and Seoul.

They raped victims who had fallen asleep after drinking or assaulted them until they lost consciousness. Mr. B was found to have raped a teenage victim ten times and physically abused them. Additionally, it was revealed that they either directly administered psychotropic drugs (narcotics) to the victims or provided them to some victims.

Among the four victims, two were middle school students, making them minors under the statutory rape provision. Under current criminal law, any sexual activity with a minor under the age of 16 is punishable, regardless of the minor’s consent.