Former Cheongju City Councilor Choi Young-jung Indicted Under Detention for Soliciting Sex from 4 Minors

Charges of habitual production of sexual exploitation material also applied
Former Cheongju City Councilor Choi Young-jung, who is facing charges of child prostitution. 〈Photo=Yonhap News〉Former Cheongju City Councilor Choi Young-jung, who is charged with child prostitution and the production of sexual exploitation material, has been indicted under detention.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office announced today (25th) that it has indicted former Councilor Choi under detention on charges including statutory rape of a minor and violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse.
Former Councilor Choi is accused of requesting body photos from four minors, including a middle school student "A," whom he met through a chat app, on eight separate occasions from July 2024 to January of this year.
According to the investigation, it was revealed that Choi shared the body photos received from the victims in group chat rooms where his acquaintances were gathered.
Former Councilor Choi also faces charges of having sexual intercourse with three minors, including "A," on four separate occasions.
It was found that he demanded sexual intercourse from "A" in exchange for pocket money and also gave money to two other victims.
Furthermore, he reportedly suggested to "A" that he would give her more money if she brought her friends or an older sister, and he also showed her videos of himself having sexual intercourse with another woman.
It was also revealed that he sent messages implying that he wanted to engage in sexual intercourse with a foreign woman together.
He continued to exchange sexual conversations with the victim as recently as last March, just three months before the local elections.
During the investigation, Choi claimed, "I did have sexual intercourse, but I did not know they were minors."
However, based on the fact that Choi met the victim near a school at the time, the fact that the victim was wearing school uniform-style clothing, and the KakaoTalk chat history, the prosecution determined that he committed the crimes knowing they were minors under the age of 16.
Given that numerous sexual exploitation materials of other women were discovered on Choi's mobile phone, the prosecution also applied charges of habitual production and distribution of sexual exploitation material, noting the possibility of paraphilic interests targeting children and adolescents.End of text