Sex Offender in His 20s Receives Prison Term Despite Depositing 21 Million Won in Settlement Money
A man in his 20s who committed a sex crime was sentenced to prison despite depositing 21 million won (money set aside with the court as a settlement payment) for the victim. On the 31st, the Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch (Presiding Judge Kim Ji-hyun) sentenced Mr. A, 26, who was indicted on charges of forcible molestation and rape, to three years in prison and ordered him detained in court. The court also ordered Mr. A to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and barred him from employment at institutions related to children, adolescents, and people with disabilities for five years.
Mr. A's first crime occurred in the early hours of June 23 last year. He is accused of approaching Ms. B, 23, on a street in Wonju, Gangwon Province, saying "You're pretty, let's hang out together," and, after being refused, following her and molesting her. He touched her pelvis while she was bent over picking up a cigarette that had fallen on the ground. In July of the same year, he is accused of committing rape by using violence against Ms. C, 26, in a room at a lodging facility in Wonju after she repeatedly asked him to stop having sex.
In the early stages of the investigation, Mr. A gave false statements to investigative authorities in an attempt to avoid punishment. However, he later confessed to his crimes, admitted to all the charges, and submitted multiple letters of remorse. He completed sexual violence recidivism prevention education and cognitive behavioral improvement training, received counseling at a psychological counseling facility, and vowed to quit drinking. To restore the harm done to the victims, Mr. A deposited 5 million won for Ms. B and 16 million won for Ms. C. In the process, the court learned that Mr. A's mother, a basic livelihood security recipient, had taken out a loan of 20 million won.
The court stated, "Despite difficult financial circumstances, he appears to have made minimal efforts toward restoring the victims, and seems to be making efforts to prevent recidivism." However, it also pointed out, "Victim C expressed no intention to settle, petitioned for severe punishment of the defendant, and refused the deposited money," adding, "The case involving victim C was a sadistic and dehumanizing crime." The court further ruled, "Sexual violence is a serious crime that infringes on the victim's sexual self-determination rights, and its harm is difficult to recover from easily."
Even the 21 million won raised through his mother's loan could not reduce his sentence. What the court considered were the victim's refusal and petition, as well as the sadistic nature of the crime.
