A South Korean court’s decision to grant a suspended prison sentence to a man convicted of threatening a minor with explicit images has ignited widespread outrage online, with many questioning whether the legal system is failing to protect children.
According to legal sources on January 7, the Cheongju District Court’s Criminal Division 22, presided over by Judge Han Sang Won, sentenced a 20-year-old man identified as 'A' to six months in prison, suspended for one year, for violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (threatening using filmed materials). The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment education.
A suspended sentence means the court delays enforcing a prison sentence, allowing the defendant to remain free as long as they do not violate specific conditions during a set probation period.
'A' was indicted without detention for threatening a 14-year-old girl, identified as 'B,' via social media in March last year, implying he would distribute her nude photos to people she knew.
Investigators found that 'A' had met 'B' through social media in January last year and had sexual relations with her, during which the two exchanged photos of each other. Authorities confirmed that all photos used in the crime were deleted and were not actually distributed.
The court stated, “Considering the circumstances and methods of the crime, including the defendant’s use of the victim’s photos to threaten her, the nature of the offense is grave,” adding, “The victim is believed to have suffered significant psychological shock and fear.”
However, the court noted mitigating factors, saying, “In determining the sentence, the court took into account that the defendant settled with the victim, admitted to the crime and showed remorse, that the defendant was a minor at the time of the offense, and had no prior criminal record.”
Both A and the prosecution waived their right to appeal.
Many took particular issue with the court’s reasoning, especially its emphasis on mitigating factors such as the defendant’s age at the time of the offense, his lack of prior convictions, and a settlement reached with the victim. Online commenters mocked the court’s repeated use of the phrase “however,” saying it has become shorthand for excusing sexual crimes.
Korean netizens reacted in outrage and commented:
"A suspended sentence? Are you serious? Has the judge lost their mind?"
"This is the judiciary in Korea… unbelievable."
"That crime gets probation? This country is insane."
"He did THAT to a minor and gets probation?"
"There it is again — ‘however, however, however.’ That one word excuses everything."
"In Korea, it feels like abusing a minor is punished more lightly than writing fictional content."
"If he were a minor at the time, that should mean harsher punishment, not leniency."
"This isn’t justice. It’s encouragement."
"Judges like this are raising future sex offenders."
"Even an AI judge would do better than this."
"Fourteen years old is still a child."
"The punishment is disgustingly light. Change the law already."
"The judge is just as guilty."
"You expect people to get married and have kids in a country like this?"
"Protect minors, for once."
"Probation for a crime like this is why no one trusts the legal system anymore."
"The judge is a perpetrator too."
"Suspended sentence? What?"
"He shouldn't be allowed to be in society."
"Shouldn't he be punished more harshly if he were a minor at the time? To teach him a lesson."
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