'Sex Offender Registration' 20s Male Arrested for "Risk of Flight and Evidence Tampering"

by Hwang Seoyul

Published 26 Aug.2023 00:33(KST)

A man in his 20s who built trust by offering counseling on concerns in the online community DC Inside’s Depression Gallery and then committed sexual crimes against minors has been arrested.

'Sex Offender Registration' 20s Male Arrested for "Risk of Flight and Evidence Tampering"

On the 26th, Yoon Jae-nam, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, held a pre-arrest detention hearing for Lee (28, male) on charges including statutory rape of a minor, violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse, and violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes. The judge issued an arrest warrant citing concerns over flight risk and evidence tampering.

Lee appeared in front of the Seoul Dongjak Police Station around 3 p.m. the previous day. When asked if he approached the victim knowing she was a minor, he replied, "No." When questioned about his prior sexual offense record and whether he felt remorse, he said, "I will cooperate sincerely with the investigation." When asked if he had anything to say to the victim, he said, "I am sorry." He remained silent regarding whether he admitted to the charges.

According to the police, Lee is accused of luring the then 15-year-old victim, Ms. A, to a motel after gaining her trust by counseling her concerns in the DC Inside Depression Gallery in January 2021, and engaging in sexual intercourse. He is also suspected of illegally filming the sexual acts and producing child sexual exploitation material, subsequently sending Ms. A multiple sexually exploitative images and obscene messages.

Lee was previously convicted and sentenced to prison for a similar crime against a minor and is currently under sex offender registry management. The police also confirmed that Lee was fined for another offense committed against a different minor.

The police began a preliminary investigation last month after receiving reports of additional victimization of Ms. A while investigating the Depression Gallery case.