Supreme Court Rejects Re-Appeal to Exclude Jo Joo-bin from Public Trial Participation

Jo Joo-bin (28), the operator of the 'Baksa Room' who distributed child sexual exploitation materials, repeatedly appealed against the decision to exclude his request for a jury trial in an additional sexual crime case but was dismissed.

The Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Cho Jae-yeon) dismissed Jo Joo-bin's appeal against the decision to exclude the jury trial on the 30th.

Operator Jo Joo-bin of the 'Doctor's Room,' who distributed child sexual exploitation materials.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jo Joo-bin, who was sentenced to 42 years in prison in 2021 for distributing child sexual exploitation materials, was additionally indicted last September on charges of sexually assaulting a minor.

Jo denied the charges and applied for a jury trial at the first trial court, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 31 (Presiding Judge Lee Jung-min), in October last year, but the court decided to exclude the jury trial in February this year.

Jo immediately filed an objection, but the Seoul High Court dismissed the objection on the 4th of last month.

Jo filed another appeal.

However, the Supreme Court also dismissed Jo's appeal on the same day, maintaining the decision that the case cannot proceed as a jury trial.

The victim's lawyer opposed Jo's request for a jury trial at the first hearing in November last year, saying, "It raises doubts whether this is an attempt to silence the victim," and added, "We want the trial to proceed in the usual manner." The prosecution also stated that it is appropriate to proceed with a regular trial.

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