Police find two more alleged victims in ex-Cheongju councilor sex crime investigation
Digital forensic evidence raised the number of alleged underage victims in the sex crime case against former Cheongju council member Choi Young-joong to four.
Former Cheongju City Council member Choi Young-joong, who is accused of paying a minor for sex, leaves the Cheongju District Court to board a transport vehicle on July 30 after attending a pretrial detention hearing.
YONHAP
Police have identified evidence of additional sex crimes allegedly committed by former Cheongju City Council member Choi Young-joong, bringing the total number of alleged underage victims to four.
Choi has been referred to prosecutors while in detention on Aug. 6 on charges of statutory rape, producing child sexual abuse material; soliciting prostitution; engaging in sexually exploitative conversations with minors; and forcing, arranging or sexually harassing children under the Child Welfare Act.
The Cheongwon Police Station said Monday it had referred additional cases involving Choi to prosecutors.
Police reportedly uncovered evidence of alleged sex crimes involving two additional minors while conducting digital forensic analysis of Choi's cell phone and examining his communications records. Two minors had previously been identified as alleged victims.
Choi is accused of paying a middle school student he met through a chat app for sex on three occasions at locations including motels and a vehicle over a period of about a year beginning in October 2024.
He also faces allegations of sexual abuse and coercing sexual acts, including offering the alleged victim additional compensation for introducing friends or female acquaintances older than her. He is also accused of asking the minor to send nude photos and making the minor watch videos of sexual intercourse.
Choi has denied the allegations during the investigation, saying, "I did have sex, but I did not know the person was a minor."
Investigators also found indications that he attempted to destroy evidence, including by deleting some privately obtained forensic data.
Choi ran in and won a seat in the June 3 local elections while concealing that he was under investigation as a suspect. He later resigned from the city council after the investigation intensified and was expelled from the People Power Party.
The Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office plans to conduct a supplementary investigation based on police records and forensic evidence before indicting Choi in custody around Tuesday, when his detention period is set to expire.
BY KO SEUNG-PYO [[email protected]]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
