Two men in their 20s, who were handed over to trial for sexually assaulting teenage girls they knew in the online community, were also sentenced to prison in the second trial.
On the 23rd, the Seoul High Court sentenced A (23) and B (26), who were charged with quasi-rape under the Act on the Protection of Sexuality of Children and Adolescents, to eight years and seven years in prison.
They were ordered to attach a location-tracking electronic device (electronic anklet) for 20 years and complete an 80-hour sexual violence treatment program. They were also prohibited from working at institutions related to children, adolescents and the disabled for seven years.
Earlier, the prosecution demanded 15 years and 10 years in prison for A and B in the final trial of the appeal trial held last month. A and the prosecution appealed the ruling of the first trial, respectively, on the grounds of "unfair sentencing."
"There is no reason for the change in sentencing after the judgment of the lower court," the court said. "The sentence sentenced by the lower court to the accused cannot be said to be heavy or light. We do not accept the claims of the defendants and prosecutors."
A and others were charged with sexual intercourse or similar sexual activity with four middle and high school students, including Ms. C, at officetels and multi-family houses in Incheon and Seoul from December 2023 to April last year.
Mr. A and others are said to have gotten to know the victims at the depression gallery. In particular, Mr. A is said to have formed a group with people he met at the depression gallery and then acted as a "hidefam room manager."
Their other accomplice, D (22), was indicted first and sentenced to eight years in prison in the first trial last month, and the appeals court is now sentenced to the same sentence. In addition, two of these defendants were found to have sexually assaulted the victims after providing them with sleeping pills, a psychotropic drug.
Two out of four victims in this case are middle school students subject to the rape of minors' agenda. According to the criminal law, sexual activity with minors under the age of 16 is punished regardless of the consent of the other party.
Reporter Ha Seung-yeon
A middle school student, who falls under the category of statutory rape protection, was sexually assaulted—yet the sentence handed down raises serious questions.
This reflects the current level of awareness among judges in our country.
It feels as though they are stuck in the mindset of the 1980s, unable to keep pace with the public's expectations.
Every one of their actions seems to reflect this outdated perspective.
That’s why I believe it’s not an unfounded concern to worry that, unless we reform these individuals through legal means, they may continue to use the power of the law to dominate our country as they do now.