Famous Pastor Arrested and Indicted for Sexual Assault of North Korean Defector Youth

A famous pastor was arrested and indicted on charges of sexually assaulting North Korean defector youths.

Pastor Cheon Mo, accused of sexually assaulting North Korean defector youths, is seen leaving after completing the detention hearing (warrant review) at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 21st of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, the 1st Division of the Women and Children Crime Investigation Department at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Eun-mi) announced that Pastor Cheon Mo (67) was arrested and indicted the previous day on charges of sexually assaulting North Korean defector youths. A prosecutor stated, "Currently, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is investigating additional victims," and added, "The prosecution will do its best to maintain the indictment so that the defendant receives a severe sentence commensurate with the crimes committed."

According to the prosecution, Cheon is accused of sexually assaulting six North Korean defector youths or children of defectors eight times from 2016 until last May at the dormitory of a boarding alternative school where he serves as principal, violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse, among other charges.

The police began investigating after receiving complaints from the victims in July. Last month, the court issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns over potential evidence tampering.

Since 1999, Cheon has helped about 1,000 North Korean residents defect and was introduced by foreign media as the "Schindler of Asia."

On the 21st of last month, Judge Lee Min-su, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-arrest detention hearing for Pastor Cheon and subsequently issued the arrest warrant requested by the police, citing concerns over evidence tampering.

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