20s Gang Imprisoned for Coercing Teenagers into Prostitution by Promising "Easy Money"

Unfair Gains of Approximately 200 Million Won Obtained Through Procuring Prostitution

Nine people in their 20s who facilitated the prostitution of minors while traveling across the country were sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] A group indicted for coercing minors into prostitution by enticing them with promises of easy money has been sentenced to prison.

The Criminal Division 1 of Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch (Chief Judge Shin Gyo-sik) sentenced nine people in their 20s to 3 to 10 years in prison on the 21st for charges including mediation business acts under the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse.

They are accused of coercing 11 minors into prostitution from April 2020 to June 2021, using methods such as enticing them with promises of "easy money" or threatening them by exploiting their weaknesses, committing the acts from a few times to several dozen times.

The trial revealed that they divided roles as local friends and seniors/juniors, formed teams of 2 to 3 people, traveled nationwide, recruited buyers through anonymous chats, and mediated prostitution. The illegal profits earned from mediating prostitution reportedly amounted to about 200 million won.

When police investigations began in June last year, they changed their mobile phones, canceled their telecommunications services to erase tracking clues, and fled to other regions, but were eventually caught.

The court sentenced two of them, including A (24), who committed the most offenses, to 10 years in prison, and B (24) and C (25) to 9 years in prison.

The remaining five were sentenced to prison terms of 3, 4, and 7 years respectively.

The court explained the sentencing by stating, "They systematically solicited and coerced minors into prostitution and shared the profits," and "The victims are suffering physically and mentally."

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