"‘You Must Do This to Go to Heaven’: Pastor Who Sexually Assaulted 9 Female Followers Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison"

[Image source - Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] A pastor of a church in Jeonbuk who was accused of raping or sexually assaulting nine female congregants was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Gunsan Branch of Jeonju District Court (Chief Judge Donghyuk Kim) sentenced Pastor A to eight years in prison on the 16th on charges of rape and sexual assault, ordered him to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program, and imposed a five-year employment restriction at institutions related to children and adolescents and welfare facilities for the disabled.

The court stated, "The defendant, who holds a profession that requires high morality, committed rape or sexual assault against devout believers, making the nature of the crime very serious," and "The victims' testimonies are consistent and without contradictions, so all the charges are recognized as guilty."

It added, "The victims appear to have suffered considerable sexual shame and psychological trauma, and all of them desire severe punishment," and "However, the defendant consistently offered unacceptable excuses, so a heavy sentence is imposed," explaining the sentencing rationale.

Pastor A was arrested and indicted on charges of repeatedly raping or sexually assaulting nine female congregants at the church, his home, a villa, and in a car from 1989 until recently. It was found that some congregants were continuously sexually assaulted even after being raped. Some of the victims at the time were minors, and there were cases where mothers and daughters were assaulted.

Pastor A reportedly told congregants who refused his acts, "This is done out of God's love, so it's okay," and "You must do this to go to heaven."

However, Pastor A denied the charges during the investigation, stating, "It was wrong to have inappropriate relationships with the congregants, but the sexual acts were consensual."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.