[Anchor]

Additional circumstances pointing to further crimes by former Cheongju City Councilman Choi Young-jung, who was arrested on charges of purchasing sex from a minor, have been uncovered. Police found records showing that Choi exchanged sexual communications with two additional victims, including one believed to be a minor, on his mobile phone.

CJB reporter Kim Min-young reports.

[Reporter]

Additional victims have emerged in the case of former Cheongju City Councilman Choi Young-jung, who was arrested on charges of purchasing sex from a child.

Choi initially handed over a mobile phone—presumed to be the one used during the crime—to a private digital forensics firm to delete chat logs with the victim before submitting it to the police.

However, police investigations uncovered messenger conversations between Choi and another woman, identified as A, that Choi had failed to delete in time.

Choi reportedly received nude and school uniform photos from woman A, who is presumed to be a minor, and sent photos of himself as well.

In addition, police reportedly confirmed sexual chat contents with another woman, identified as B.

Police are verifying whether woman B is a minor and are probing into whether Choi committed any additional crimes.

With the confirmation that Choi exchanged sexual photos with other women, legal grounds have been secured to apply charges of producing sexual exploitation materials against Choi.

Previously, police understood that Choi had sent messages telling the original victim student to take and send nude photos, but had been unable to secure direct physical evidence because the victim's phone was broken.

Police plan to substantiate Choi's additional charges and forward the case to the prosecution within this week.

(Video by: Park Hee-sung, CJB)

Kim Min-young, CJB