"Promised to Help Run Away" but Turned into a Sex Offender, Art Academy Instructor... Suspended Sentence and Release in Second Trial

A 13-Year-Old Middle School Student Apprentice Runs Away, Leading to Heinous Acts
Appeal Trial Grants Suspended Sentence with 40 Million Won Settlement

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A former art academy instructor who was sentenced to imprisonment without bail in the first trial for assisting a middle school female student to run away and keeping her under the pretext of protection while sexually molesting her was released on probation in the appellate trial.

According to the legal community on the 7th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 11-1 (Presiding Judge Lee Hyunwoo) recently sentenced A (28), who was indicted for violating the Juvenile Protection Act (forcible molestation) and the Missing Children Act, to 2 years in prison with a 3-year probation, stating, "The sentence imposed by the original court was too harsh." The court explained, "At this stage, considerable compensation has been made and an agreement reached, and the victim's side does not wish for punishment," adding, "He is a first-time offender, and his acquaintances have petitioned for leniency, showing that his social ties appear to be quite favorable."

A was prosecuted for forcibly molesting B, a 13-year-old middle school student and his pupil, while working as an art academy instructor last May. When B was contemplating running away from home, he helped by booking a motel and, from the first day, committed sexual abuse acts against B for about three days. Even after receiving contact from B’s parents, he lied and attempted to conceal the crime by making B remove the SIM card from her phone or lie directly to her parents.

In the first trial, the court sentenced him to 2 years in prison and detained him, stating, "The victim, who is at an age requiring protection from family and society, was used as an object of sexual desire." Unlike B, who expressed that she did not want punishment for A, B’s parents petitioned for severe punishment, and no agreement was reached at that time.

Later, A’s side succeeded in reaching an agreement by paying 40 million won in settlement money. In his final statement at the appellate trial, A said, "I apologize to the victim and her family who have suffered an indelible wound," and "If you show leniency, I will become a healthy member of society who can prove that the judge’s choice was not wrong." Meanwhile, the prosecutor requested the dismissal of A’s appeal, stating, "The defendant had the intent to commit the crime from the beginning while protecting the victim."

The appellate court sentenced him to probation and ordered him to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program. Considering "the low risk of reoffending," the court exempted him from the order to disclose and notify personal information. As the prosecutor did not appeal, this ruling became final.

Meanwhile, Article 305, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Act, revised last year under the Ministry of Justice’s initiative, stipulates that a person aged 19 or older who commits rape or molestation against a minor aged 13 or older but under 16 shall be punished regardless of the minor’s consent.

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