Former Coach Jo Jae-beom Sentenced to 10 Years and 6 Months in Prison for Sexual Assault Charges

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The court sentenced former short track national team coach Jo Jaebeom to 10 years and 6 months in prison for sexually assaulting Korean female short track skater Shim Seokhee.

On the 21st, the 15th Criminal Division of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Jo Hyuok) sentenced Jo, who was charged with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (rape and injury), stating, "The defendant's actions are severely culpable and highly condemnable." Additionally, Jo was ordered to complete 200 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and was banned from employment at institutions related to children, youth, and welfare facilities for the disabled for seven years.

Jo was charged with sexually assaulting or forcibly molesting Shim 30 times at seven locations, including Taereung and Jincheon athlete villages and the Korea National Sport University ice rink, from August 2014, when Shim was a second-year high school student, until December 2017, just before the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The prosecution charged Jo with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse for offenses committed before 2016, when Shim was still a high school student.

On this day, the court explained the sentencing rationale, stating, "The defendant, as the coach who guided the victim, committed sexual crimes such as rape and forcible molestation multiple times over several years, exploiting the victim's inability to resist."

Meanwhile, Jo consistently denied the charges during the investigation and trial, admitting only to physical and verbal abuse for disciplinary purposes but denying any sexual crimes. Separately from the sexual offenses, Jo was tried for repeatedly assaulting Shim, causing injury, and was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison in the January 2019 appellate trial, which was finalized.

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