Koreans Outraged As Livestreamed-Rape Convict Sees Sentence Slashed For Nonsense Reason
The Seoul High Court’s three presiding judges, Park Young Joo, Park Jae Woo, and Jung Moon Kyung, are facing massive backlash from the Korean public after slashing the original sentencing for Kim, a 30-year-old male streamer who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman while live.
In May 2025, Kim was tried for raping an unconscious woman—reportedly intoxicated and drugged—and livestreaming the act to his 200 viewers (who all failed to report to the police). He was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of molestation, as the court determined that he committed the crime for profit. During the investigation, the police also identified allegations of sexual crimes by Kim against another woman.
Korean Man Livestreams Rape Of Unconscious Woman While Viewers Fail To Report Incident
The appellate court, however, claimed that “Even if the livestream generated revenue, that income did not go directly to the defendant.” It was ultimately concluded that “the defendant did not gain direct financial benefit from the broadcast,” and therefore slashing his sentence to five years.
The court also noted that one of the victims expressed that she did not wish for Kim to be punished, which was taken into account in reducing the sentencing.
The news has, undoubtedly, left Korean netizens appalled.
- “The judges were part of the 200 viewers, huh? Because how else could they possibly reduce a sentence like this?”
- “WTF? These judges are the worst.”
- “This is insane.”
- “There’s no other way to make this right except putting the judges in the victim’s shoes. Like, would they be open to reducing a rapist’s sentence if the same happened to them?
- “I can’t believe this is the reality we live in.”
- “It says, ‘one of the victims expressed that she did not wish for Kim to be punished, which was taken into account in reducing the sentencing.’ Please stop reducing sentences because of apology letters or because a victim says they don’t want punishment. So many victims say that because they’re scared of what happens after the offender is released.”
- “Whenever I see sentencing for sex crimes, Korea feels like it’s progressing backwards.”
- “Hannams must die.”
- “The judges were useless.”
- “Judges who reduce sentences for sex crimes seem completely out of touch. Makes you wonder if they have anyone around them.”
- “Every time I see stuff like this, I feel like personal revenge is needed. What’s the point of laws that don’t think about victims?”
In a comparable way, former NCT member Taeil‘s ruling for aggravated rape also sparked public outrage.
Read more about it here:
Former NCT Taeil’s Prison Sentence For Rape Post-Appeal Sparks Public Outrage
