“There was no intent to kidnap; it was a joke”—Two men in their 20s deny charges at first trial over attempt to lure elementary school students

[Financial News] Two men in their 20s who were indicted for allegedly trying to get students leaving school into a vehicle near an elementary school in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, denied all the charges at their first trial. They admitted speaking to the students but claimed they had no intention of kidnapping them.
The Seoul Western District Court's Criminal Single Judge Panel 9 (Judge Kim Min-jeong) held the first hearing on the 16th for A and B, who were indicted on charges of attempted enticement of minors and violating the Child Welfare Act (child abuse).
According to prosecutors, the two are accused of driving around near an elementary school in Hong-eun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on August 28 last year, approaching four elementary school students who were leaving school and attempting to lure them on three occasions.
Investigators said the two urged the students to get into their vehicle, saying things like, “You look cute,” “We’ll take you home,” and “We’ll give you a ride. Get in.” The students refused or moved away, and no actual kidnapping took place.
A and B's defense denied all the charges in the indictment that day. Their lawyer admitted that they had approached and spoken to the children, but argued, “They had absolutely no intention of luring the children into the car or taking control of them. It was just a prank.”
The defense asked to call C, an acquaintance who had been sitting in the back seat of the vehicle at the time, as a witness. C was questioned during the investigation but was not referred to prosecutors because investigators did not find sufficient involvement. The court decided to call C as a witness on December 18 to clarify the conversations and circumstances inside the vehicle at the time.
Earlier, police initially treated the first report, made immediately after the incident, as a mistaken report. After further reports came in, they reexamined CCTV footage and other evidence and launched an investigation. They later referred A and B to prosecutors without detaining them on charges of attempted enticement of minors.
The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office, which received the case at the time, reviewed additional investigation findings and CCTV footage before also charging the two with emotional abuse of children and bringing them to trial.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter