Active-Duty Soldier Given Suspended Prison Sentence for Sexual Relations with Minor Before Enlistment

An active-duty soldier who had sexual relations with a minor before enlisting in the military has been sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years.

According to legal circles yesterday (July 21), the criminal division of the Cheongju District Court's Yeongdong Branch (Presiding Judge Son Ju-hee) sentenced Defendant A, who was put on trial on charges including statutory rape of a minor under the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse and possession of sexually exploitative materials, to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspension.

Defendant A, an active-duty soldier, is accused of having sexual relations with a minor, victim B, at a motel in Daejeon in January of last year before his enlistment.

He is also accused of contacting victim B via social media the next day to ask her to take and send photos of her body, which she then transmitted.

It was reported that Defendant A and victim B got to know each other while working a part-time job together.

Presiding Judge Son stated in the ruling, "Although the defendant should have protected the victim, a minor, so that she could grow into a healthy member of society, he engaged in sexual relations with the victim for his own sexual gratification." However, the judge added, "As mitigating factors, it did not appear that the defendant maliciously approached the victim for sexual purposes, and he reached a settlement by paying 20 million won to the victim."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.