Prosecutors Appeal 3-Year Sentence for National Team Short Track Coach Convicted of Sexual Misconduct with Teenage Student

The prosecution appealed the verdict in which a former national team junior short track coach was sentenced to prison in the first trial for forcibly molesting a minor student.

On the 11th, according to the prosecution, the Women's and Children's Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor An Seong-hee) filed an appeal with the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Jeong Do-seong), which sentenced Lee Mo (44), a former national team junior short track coach, to three years in prison.

The prosecution stated, "Considering that the defendant abused his superior position while coaching the victim students, that the victims, who are children and adolescents, suffered severe psychological trauma which has not yet healed, that no settlement was reached with the victims, and that the victims are petitioning for severe punishment, a harsher sentence is necessary."

Previously, the prosecution had requested a seven-year prison sentence for Lee.

He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs and was banned from employment for five years at institutions related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities.

The first trial court ruled, "The victims' testimonies are detailed, and considering the characteristics of sexual violence crimes against children and adolescents, the dates and frequency of the offenses in the indictment can be specified," and found all charges guilty.

It added, "The defendant, as a short track coach, forcibly molested the victims, who were his students, by touching their bodies," and pointed out, "Considering the number of victims and targets, the circumstances and methods of the crimes, the relationship between the defendant and the victims, and the repetitive nature of the offenses, the criminal nature is severe."

Furthermore, the court stated, "Sexual violence crimes against children and adolescents cause great harm to the victims and must be punished strictly," and explained the sentencing by saying, "The defendant has not been forgiven by the victims, and the victims also wish for severe punishment."

Lee, who was a junior short track coach at an ice rink in Seoul, is accused of forcibly molesting a teenage student last year under the pretext of giving a massage. In response, the parents filed a complaint against Lee with the police in November last year, and after supplementary investigations, he was arrested and indicted in December.

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