"Shaman in His 40s Repeatedly Sexually Assaulted Teenage Disciple Saying 'Sex with Me Was God’s Will'"

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A man in his 40s who pressured his teenage shaman disciple into having sexual relations multiple times has been sentenced to a heavy prison term.

According to Jeju District Court on the 20th, the 2nd Criminal Division (Chief Judge Jang Chan-su) sentenced Kim (40), who was indicted for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Offenses (coercion and other acts), to 12 years in prison. He was also ordered a 10-year employment ban at child and youth-related institutions and 3 years of probation.

The court stated the sentencing reason: "The defendant committed the crime by exploiting the fact that the victim was his disciple who received a shamanic spirit possession from him, the situation of the victim's family, and the desperate feelings toward the victim's family."

Shaman Kim initiated teenage A as his disciple through spirit possession in September 2017.

During shamanic training, Kim repeatedly said things like "If you don't have relations with me, your family will die," and "If the disciple cannot find the spirit, they must have relations."

Eventually, on November 28, 2017, the day of A's Jeomansik (the day of setting up the shamanic altar), Kim persuaded her in a car, saying, "If you can't find the spirit, you can't live this life. Aren't you sorry for your family?" and had sexual relations.

Kim continued to tell A things like "Our sexual relations are commanded by the spirit" and was confirmed to have had sexual relations multiple times at motels and other places until July 2018.

However, Kim denied the crime at trial, claiming "the victim falsely accused me to take my place," and even submitted fabricated evidence. But when the key witnesses' statements did not align with the facts, he eventually confessed to the crime truthfully.

The court viewed that Kim exploited the vulnerable situation where the young victim had no choice but to rely on him after receiving spirit possession from him to commit such crimes.

The court ruled, "The defendant's crime is very serious, and from the investigation stage to this court, he denied having sexual relations with the victim," adding, "The victim appeared and testified five times, and the mental shock and trauma the victim experienced during this process are hard to fathom."

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