K-Pop Stars Jung Joon Young, Choi Jong Hoon’s Prison Terms Upheld In Rape Case

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The Supreme Court of South Korea has dismissed the appeals of K-pop stars Jung Joon Young and Choi Jong Hoon, who were convicted of rape and other crimes last year.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, the Supreme Court chose to uphold the Seoul High Court’s prison sentences for Jung, a singer-songwriter, and Choi, a former member of the boy band F.T. Island, in May. Jung’s finalized prison term is five years, while Choi’s is two years and six months, South Korean state-run outlet Yonhap News Agency reported.

In November last year, Jung and Choi were sentenced to six years and five years, respectively, by the Seoul Central District Court for raping women on two separate occasions during drinking parties in 2016.

They later appealed the ruling, and in May, the Seoul High Court reduced Jung and Choi’s sentences to five years and two years and six months, respectively. The case was then brought to the Supreme Court after they went on to appeal this ruling as well.

“There was no violation of legal principles or misrepresentation of facts due to subjective reasoning or experience in the original ruling, and there was also no misconception of jurisprudence,” the Supreme Court stated of its decision to uphold the lower court’s prison sentences.

Jung was given a heavier prison sentence as he was also charged with secretly recording videos of himself having sex with women and sharing the footage with other members of a chat room. About 10 women have come forward claiming to be victims of non-consensual hidden camera by the K-pop star.

Last year, the Jung and Choi argued that their encounters had been consensual. But the judge dismissed the argument, saying they took advantage of women who could not resist their advances.

“Jung and Choi took part in gang rape of victims who were intoxicated and unable to resist. It is hard to fathom the extent of suffering the victims must have gone through,” the judge said in November 2019, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Aside from Jung and Choi, three others have been charged for their roles in the assault

“Kwon,” the older brother of Girls’ Generation singer Yuri, was sentenced to four years in prison, while “Kim,” nightclub Burning Sun MD (merchandiser, or promoter), was handed a five-year sentence. “Heo,” an entertainment agency employee, received two years of probation.

The incident came to light following an investigation into another K-pop star, Seungri, who was accused of supplying prostitutes to foreign investors at several nightclubs in Seoul’s upmarket Gangnam district. Seungri, a former member of Big Bang, was a member of the chat room that included Jung and Choi.

Seungri has since been indicted on charges including prostitution and habitual gambling, CNN reported.

K-pop star Jung Joon-young was convicted of gang rape Photo: AFP / JUNG Yeon-Je