[Anchor]

A sitting Cheongju City Council member is under police investigation on charges of engaging in prostitution with a minor, a practice commonly referred to as "conditional meetings." It has been discovered that the council member was questioned as a suspect in May, just before the local elections, but was elected while concealing the fact that he was under investigation.

CJB reporter Park Eon has the story.

[Reporter]

Police investigators are seen leaving the office of a Cheongju City Council member.

The police conducted simultaneous raids on the home and office of 35-year-old first-term council member Choi Young-jung, a member of the People Power Party, after allegations surfaced that he engaged in prostitution with a minor.

Choi is accused of having sexual relations with a middle school student on three occasions over a one-year period, from October 2024 to October 2025, in vehicles and at lodging establishments.

Police believe that Choi met the victim through a chat app and lured her into sexual relations by offering small amounts of money or cigarettes.

The police are investigating not only the charges of prostitution but also the possibility of sexual exploitation crimes.

The search and seizure warrant lists four charges, including child prostitution, production of sexual exploitation material, engaging in conversations for the purpose of sexual exploitation, and soliciting sexual services. It is reported that the charge of soliciting sexual services was included because he allegedly offered more money if the victim brought a friend.

The case came to light in February when the victim's parents filed a complaint with the police.

The police summoned Choi as a suspect for questioning in May, ahead of the local elections.

It is reported that Choi stated during the investigation, "I did engage in prostitution, but I did not know she was a minor."

Choi ran in the election without informing his party's provincial chapter that he was under investigation, and he ultimately secured his seat.

The police plan to conduct a digital forensic analysis of the seized mobile phones to determine if there are additional charges before deciding on how to proceed with the case against Choi.

(Video coverage: Park Hee-sung, CJB | Source: Instagram of Cheongju City Council Member Choi Young-jung)

Reported by Park Eon, CJB