College students accused of sex abuse broadcast live on classmates

Amid rising public anger over sex crimes and bullying in South Korea, another case has left people reeling.

Two college students accused of live-streaming a scene on social media in which a friend stripped naked and assaulted classmate C at a motel have been taken to court.

On March 15, the Daegu District Procuratorate (Principal Prosecutor Jang Il-hee) arrested middle school student A (16 years old) for violating the Sexual Protection of Children and Youth Law (production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials, etc.) and sued she at middle school student B (age 15) was charged without detention.

The two suspects are said to have physically and sexually assaulted their classmate on January 9.

They forced the victim to strip and then beat her in a motel room in Daegu. The incident was broadcast live from the scene for about 30 minutes. Friends of the victim who saw the live stream reported her to the police.

In addition, they are known to have subjected C to cruel acts such as making him cross a partially frozen river or go to a market and scream.

Prosecutors asked the court to review the suspects’ parole. They want to prevent the crime from happening again by allowing the Justice Department to continue monitoring the two suspects after they are released on conviction.

It was revealed that A committed this crime after repeatedly physically or verbally assaulting C, rendering him mentally impotent.

The Procuratorate selected a public defender for the victim and applied to the Daegu District Procuratorate for emergency assistance, such as psychological treatment and payment of school fees.

Since South Korea’s criminal law sets the maximum age for juvenile delinquents at 14, the suspects face a full criminal trial.

“We will take decisive action against school violence and offer the victims comprehensive protection” an official from the Daegu Procuratorate said during a briefing with local media.