20s Male Who Had Sexual Relations with Middle School Girl Receives 'Suspended Sentence'... Why?

40-Hour Sexual Violence Treatment Lecture and 5-Year Employment Restriction Order
"Negative Impact on Victims' Sexual Values and Identity Formation"
"Considering Offender's Remorse and Other Factors"

Mr. A met with a middle school student he was dating in the Gyeongbuk area and had sexual intercourse four times at the lodging facility where he was staying. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] A man in his 20s who was prosecuted for taking a middle school girl he was dating to a lodging facility multiple times and having sexual intercourse with her was sentenced to probation.

According to the legal community on the 20th, the Criminal Division 13 of Uijeongbu District Court sentenced Mr. A, a man in his 20s indicted for statutory rape of a minor, to 2 years in prison with 3 years of probation.

The court ordered Mr. A to attend 40 hours of sexual violence treatment lectures and imposed a 5-year employment restriction at child and youth-related institutions as well as institutions related to persons with disabilities.

In November of last year, Mr. A met middle school student Ms. B, whom he was dating in the Gyeongbuk region, and took her to the lodging facility where he was staying. It was revealed that Mr. A stayed with Ms. B for 2 nights and 3 days and had sexual intercourse with her four times during that period.

The crime of statutory rape of a minor applies to persons aged 19 or older who have sexual intercourse or molestation with a person aged 13 or older but under 16. This crime is established even if the victim consents.

The court stated, "Even if the victim consented to dating or sexual intercourse with the defendant, the crime was committed against a young victim whose judgment ability, concept of sex, and self-defense ability are not sufficiently developed compared to an adult," and added, "There is concern that this crime will adversely affect the victim's healthy sexual values and identity formation in the future."

However, the court explained the sentencing reasons, saying, "The defendant admitted and reflected on his crime, did not use physical force or coercive acts against the victim, reached an agreement with the victim and the legal representative, and the victim's side does not want punishment, so the sentence was determined by comprehensively considering various sentencing factors."

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