Forced Nudity and Live-Streamed Assault: Final Verdict Reached in Case Filed 6 Years Later

A group of individuals who collectively sexually assaulted a middle school peer and illegally filmed and distributed the act about eight years ago have had their sentences, including an eight-year prison term, finalized.

The Supreme Court's Third Division upheld the original ruling against a woman in her 20s, identified as A, who was charged with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse (rape). The court confirmed her sentence of eight years in prison, 80 hours of sexual violence treatment programs, and a 10-year employment restriction at institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled.

For the three accomplices, the court finalized sentences ranging from four to five years in prison, as well as a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence suspended for four years, along with 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and a seven-year employment restriction at institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled.

In August 2018, when the perpetrators were 14 to 15 years old, they forced a 14-year-old middle school peer, B, to undress in a public restroom and a house in Sejong, live-streamed her body on the internet, and sexually assaulted her.

According to the prosecution, during this process, A assaulted B, filmed the sexual assault, and threatened her, saying, "If you report this, I will distribute the footage."

The prosecution stated that the illegal footage was indeed distributed.

The victim, who had feared retaliation, filed a complaint with the police in February 2024, approximately six years after the incident occurred.

The first trial court stated, "Even if the crime was committed during their teenage years, they cannot avoid corresponding responsibility, and the nature of the crime was highly sadistic and bizarre." Considering the degree of participation, the court sentenced A to eight years in prison, and the three accomplices to prison terms of four to five years or two and a half years with a four-year suspension, respectively.

The appellate court dismissed all appeals by A and the others, stating, "Even considering that they deposited money for the victim or belatedly admitted to the crime and confessed, it is difficult to see that the original judgment exceeded the reasonable scope of discretion."

The Supreme Court also dismissed the appeals filed by A and the others, confirming the original ruling.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Lee Ui-seon | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.