South Korean Police Officer Sexually Assaults Minor

A now former police officer accused of sexually assaulting a minor has been sentenced to three years in prison in his first trial. On the morning of September 23, 2025, the Seoul Northern District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 13 (Chief Judge Na Sang Hoon) sentenced Mr. A, who is 32-years-old, to three years in prison. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and imposed a five-year employment restriction at institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled.

After hearing the prison sentence, Mr. A left the courtroom sobbing, with his face buried in his hands.

“Considering the fact that the victim is a minor, and that the guardian’s opinion was not confirmed since the family was not made aware of the crime, above all else, given that the defendant held a profession tasked with protecting young people, his crime carries greater guilt, making corresponding punishment unavoidable.”

Mr. A, who was a sergeant at a precinct under Incheon Nonhyeon Police Station, was accused of meeting a teenager he had communicated with via social media in July last year, sexually assaulting the victim, and filming the act with his phone. The police held a disciplinary committee and dismissed him. Dismissal is the harshest form of disciplinary action for a police officer.

At an earlier hearing, Mr. A pleaded for leniency

“On the day I was arrested, I had to leave after seeing my baby, less than 60 days old, crying, without saying goodbye. My wife has been devastated by my sudden absence, and has been left to shoulder both our livelihood and childcare alone, living in hell.”

Meanwhile, Mr. A deposited settlement money for the victim, who indicated willingness to accept it and expressed that they did not wish for him to receive a severe punishment. Nevertheless, Mr. A could not avoid a prison sentence. Prosecutors had requested a seven-year prison term, along with orders for him to complete a sexual violence treatment program, have his personal information disclosed, and face a ten-year employment restriction at institutions involving children, adolescents, and the disabled.