"'Doctor's Room' No.2 Kang Hoon Sentenced to 15 Years in Second Trial... 'Considering Young Age'"

Telegram's 'Doctor Room No. 2' known as 'Buddha' Kang Hoon / Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Kang Hoon, known as 'Buddha,' an accomplice of Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the Telegram 'Baksa Room,' was sentenced to 15 years in prison again in the appellate trial.

The Seoul High Court Criminal Division 9 (Presiding Judge Kwangseop Moon) on the 26th sentenced Kang, who was indicted on charges related to the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (production and distribution of obscene materials), to the same sentence as the first trial. The court also maintained the order for 40 hours of sexual violence treatment program completion, disclosure and notification of personal information for 5 years, and a 5-year employment restriction order for child and youth-related institutions and welfare facilities for the disabled.

The court stated, "The crime in this case involved sexually enslaving female children and juveniles, treating them as objects of trade or means of economic gain, violating their human rights to satisfy wrongful sexual desires." It added, "Their identities were exposed on the internet, and videos continued to be produced and distributed, causing irreparable harm even now." Furthermore, "In particular, the defendant played an essential role in the Baksa Room, and overall, his contribution and the nature of the crime are by no means light," the court criticized. However, the court considered favorable factors such as Kang being only 18 years old at the time of the crime and his immature judgment, as well as his general admission of the crimes, and judged that the 15-year prison sentence imposed in the first trial was appropriate.

Kang was indicted for conspiring with Jo from September to November 2019 to threaten 18 victims, including 7 children and juveniles, to film and produce sexually exploitative videos and sell and distribute them for profit on the Telegram Baksa Room. In particular, Kang was investigated as a key accomplice who helped manage and operate the Baksa Room from the stage when Jo created it and began producing and distributing sexually exploitative materials. The prosecution also applied charges of organizing and participating in a criminal organization to Kang, as with other members of the Baksa Room group.

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