'25 Years Imprisonment for a 20-Year-Old Who Detained a Classmate for Prostitution and Filming... Victim Ultimately Dies'

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A woman in her 20s and her cohabiting partner were sentenced to heavy prison terms for confining a school friend and workplace colleague, forcing her into prostitution, and subjecting her to harsh treatment such as cold water baths in the middle of winter, which ultimately led to her death.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Young-min) on the 26th sentenced A (26, female) and her cohabiting partner B (27) to 25 years and 8 years in prison respectively on charges including coercion into prostitution, abduction for prostitution, confinement resulting in death, and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and the Act on the Prohibition of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds. They were also ordered to complete 80 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and were banned from employment for 10 years.

A was charged with forcing her friend C (26, female) to live near her home in Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi Province, from December 2019 to last January, compelling her into prostitution 2,145 times, and embezzling approximately 300 million KRW from the earnings.

She installed a home camera in C’s residence and monitored her in real-time through a location tracking application, forcing her to engage in prostitution an average of 5 to 6 times daily at nearby motels and other locations. She is also accused of making C take 3,868 sexually exploitative photos in specific poses.

When C failed to meet the daily quota, A would call her home and subject her to harsh treatment such as cold water baths, beatings, and sleep deprivation.

A exploited C’s dependence on her, as they had been middle school, high school, and university classmates and colleagues, threatening her by saying, "There is a prostitution organization behind this; if you don’t work, you could get hurt."

Unable to endure the coercion and harsh treatment, C fled to her hometown last January, but A and B found her at a hospital where she was receiving treatment, brought her back to Seoul, and forced her into prostitution even more severely.

Ultimately, on the 19th of the same month, C died from hypothermia caused by harsh treatment including cold water baths while in a weakened state.

After C’s death, digital forensic analysis of her phone by investigative authorities revealed substantial evidence related to A’s instructions for prostitution and other crimes.

The court stated, "A used a friend who had always relied on her as a tool solely for her own benefit, controlling every move mercilessly and inhumanely. The victim was forced into prostitution without proper rest until the day before her death, and the autopsy showed no food in her body, indicating she could not eat."

It continued, "The victim endured extreme cruelty and ended her short life at 26 years old. Despite this, A showed only a will to live after release, so punishment commensurate with the severity of the crime is necessary." The court also said, "In B’s case, although he lived with A and participated in the crimes, he acted as if he had no knowledge or involvement at the beginning of the case, making a heavy sentence unavoidable."

Additionally, the court sentenced D, who was indicted without detention for aiding A’s crimes, to two years in prison and ordered immediate imprisonment.

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