| Singer Jung Joon-young at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno-gu in March. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
Five years and 10 years sought for Choi Jong-hoon and brother of Girls' Generation member Yuri
By Dong Sun-hwa
The prosecution has sought a seven-year prison term for singer Jung Joon-young for allegedly gang-raping women and filming and distributing videos of his sexual escapades.
During a hearing Wednesday at the Seoul Central District Court, it asked the court to ban Jung, 30, from working in institutions for minors for 10 years.
"Jung and the other defendants didn't reach a settlement with the victims, besides the gravity of their crimes," a prosecutor said, explaining why a tougher than usual penalty was sought.
Jung partially admitted the charges, but claimed the sex he had with the victims was consensual. He insisted his Kakao talk chats should not be admitted as evidence because they were illegally collected.
"The chats are not admissible as evidence, so the victims' statements should be the only basis by which to judge the allegations against Jung," Jung's lawyer said. "But the statements have inconsistencies."
The singer was quoted as saying: "I want to apologize to the victims. I deeply regret my foolishness." But he denied some allegations, adding, "I am speaking from a morality point of view."
Jung was arrested and charged for allegedly gang-raping women in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, in January 2016 and in Daegu in March 2016. He is also accused of allegedly filming and sharing illegal sex videos of himself and several women in 2015-16 on chatrooms. K-pop acts such as former BIGBANG member Seungri were included among the chatroom members.
Meanwhile, a five-year jail term was demanded for Choi Jong-hoon, 29, former member of K-pop boy band F.T. Island. He is suspected of allegedly having taken part in the gang rape with Jung in Daegu in March 2016. Another defendant, the brother of Girls' Generation member Yuri, also faced the prosecutor's call for a 10-year prison term.
The sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 29.