Jeju Public Health Korean Medicine Doctor Who Purchased Sex from Minors Receives Suspended Sentence

Court: "Future risk of reoffending appears low"

A public health doctor in Jeju was sentenced to a suspended prison term on charges of engaging in prostitution with a female middle school student. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A public health Korean medicine doctor in Jeju was sentenced to a suspended prison term for engaging in prostitution despite knowing that the girl was a middle school student.

The Jeju District Court's 2nd Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Jin Jae-kyung) announced on the 28th that it sentenced public health Korean medicine doctor A, who was indicted on charges including statutory rape of a minor, to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 2-year suspension and ordered him to attend 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures.

The court stated, "The defendant engaged in prostitution with the victim, who was only a middle school student, and even committed sexual intercourse during the process. Moreover, the defendant clearly knew that the victim was a middle school student, making the culpability of this crime quite severe."

However, the court explained the sentencing rationale, saying, "Considering that the defendant admitted wrongdoing and showed remorse, reached an agreement with the victim, and has no prior criminal record, even if leniency is shown this time, the risk of reoffending in the future is considered low."

Earlier, A was charged with purchasing sex from minor B, knowing that B was a middle school student, by paying 200,000 won and engaging in sexual intercourse at an officetel in Jeju last August.

According to current criminal law, even if an adult has consensual sexual relations with a minor aged 13 or older but under 16, they can be punished similarly to rape.

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