'Minor Sexual Exploitation' Former Lotte Pitcher Seo Jun-won "Due to Parenting Stress..."

Prosecution: "Serious Crime with Social Impact" Seeks 6-Year Prison Sentence
Seo Jun-won: "Relieved Stress in a Distorted Way"

The prosecution has requested a six-year prison sentence for former professional baseball pitcher Seo Jun-won of the Lotte Giants, who is accused of producing sexually exploitative material involving minors.

The prosecution has demanded a 6-year prison sentence for former professional baseball Lotte Giants pitcher Seo Jun-won, who is accused of producing sexually exploitative materials involving minors.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 23rd, at the sentencing hearing held by the Criminal Division 5 of the Busan District Court (Presiding Judge Jang Gi-seok) regarding Seo's charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (production and distribution of sexually exploitative material, etc.), the prosecution demanded a six-year prison term.

The prosecution stated, "Although this is a first offense, the defendant produced sexually exploitative material targeting a minor victim," adding, "As a public figure, he should have been a role model in society, but he committed a serious crime with significant social repercussions."

They continued, "Despite clear conversations with the victim revealed during the investigation, he claims he did not know the victim was a minor, showing a lack of genuine remorse for his actions," but also noted, "We have taken into consideration that he reached a settlement with the victim."

In response, Seo's defense attorney argued, "This crime was committed only once, and the defendant did not proceed to further offenses such as distributing the victim's video, and he has reached a settlement with the victim."

Furthermore, the defense appealed for leniency, stating, "As a result of this incident, he was expelled from the Professional Baseball Association, released by the Lotte team, and divorced from his wife," adding, "He is making every effort to find new employment and is committed to raising his two-year-old child."

In his final statement, Seo Jun-won said, "I am ashamed and regretful for trying to relieve the stress accumulated from strict control within the team and childcare in a distorted way," and expressed, "I am truly sorry to the victim, and if given another chance, I will work hard to live a proper life for my parents, wife, and son."

Earlier, Seo was brought to trial on charges including deceiving a minor victim in a KakaoTalk open chat room set up by the victim by pretending to give pocket money and demanding the victim send photos exposing their body.

It is reported that he knowingly sent sexual messages to the minor victim 60 times, instructed the victim to take and send body photos seven times, and produced sexually exploitative material based on these.

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