Cho Joo-bin, Convicted of Rape of a Minor, Receives Additional 5-Year Sentence—Total Now 47 Years

[Financial News] Cho Joo-bin, the main perpetrator in the 'Doctor's Room' case, has been sentenced to an additional five years in prison for raping and sexually abusing a minor female.
On the 11th, the first division of the Supreme Court of Korea (presiding justice: Tae-ak Rho, Justice of the Supreme Court of Korea) upheld the lower court's decision, confirming a five-year prison sentence for Cho, who was indicted for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (rape) and other charges.
Between January and November 2019, Cho raped and sexually abused a female victim who was a minor (15 years old at the time), produced obscene materials against her will, and committed quasi-forcible molestation after the abuse. These crimes occurred before the incident in which he distributed child sexual exploitation materials in the 'Doctor's Room' chatroom on Telegram.
The court of first instance found Cho guilty of several charges, sentencing him to five years in prison, ordering him to complete 40 hours of a sexual violence treatment program, and imposing a five-year employment restriction at facilities for children, juveniles, and the disabled.
The court stated, "The victim suffered extreme psychological distress for over a year, and the defendant continues to deny the crime, claiming he was in a romantic relationship with the victim, showing no remorse. As a result, the victim continues to experience significant secondary harm."
Although Cho appealed the verdict, both the appellate court and the Supreme Court of Korea upheld the original judgment.
The key issue in the final appeal was whether the sentence in this case, brought after Cho had already received a 42-year sentence for the 'Doctor's Room' case, was appropriate in light of the existing punishment.
The Supreme Court of Korea stated, "There was no error in the lower court’s judgment that would have affected the verdict, such as failing to conduct necessary hearings, violating the rules of logic and experience, exceeding the limits of free evaluation of evidence, misunderstanding the law, or omitting key judgments." A court official explained that the existing legal principles regarding sentencing were reaffirmed.
Meanwhile, from May 2019 to February 2020, Cho blackmailed dozens of female victims, including minors, to produce sexually exploitative materials, which he then sold and distributed via the 'Doctor's Room' on Telegram. In October 2021, the Supreme Court of Korea confirmed a 42-year prison sentence for these crimes, including violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles, forcible molestation, and fraud.
Additionally, in February last year, Cho received a four-month prison sentence for another case of forcible molestation, bringing his total sentence to 47 years and four months. If he serves his full term, Cho Joo-bin will be released in 2067 at the age of 70.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eun-sol Reporter