Choi Youngjoong, Accused of Underage Sex Crimes, Received 2.3 Million Won in Council Pay for 16 Days... Claims 40 Million Won in Election Expenses

Cheongju City Council: "Payments Made According to Ordinance"
Police Investigate Possibility of Additional Victims
Three Mobile Phones Secured for Forensic Analysis

Choi Youngjoong, a former Cheongju City Council member who resigned just 16 days into his term while under police investigation for alleged sex crimes against minors, reportedly received approximately 2.3 million won in council member pay for his period in office. In addition, Choi has applied for reimbursement of about 40 million won in election campaign expenses, further fueling controversy.

Former Cheongju City Council Member Youngjoong Choi accused of child prostitution. Election Commission

On July 23, KBS reported that the Cheongju City Council paid Choi about 770,000 won in council activity expenses and 1,530,000 won in monthly salary, totaling approximately 2.3 million won before taxes, on July 20. This amount was calculated on a pro-rata basis for his tenure from July 1 to July 16. According to the Cheongju City Council, although Choi did not perform any substantial legislative work during his brief term, there is no legal basis under current ordinances to restrict the payment, and thus the full amount was issued.

Relevant ordinances of the Cheongju City Council stipulate that council activity expenses and monthly salary should not be paid if a council member is detained due to indictment. However, since Choi voluntarily resigned without being detained or placed on trial, these restrictions did not apply. The City Council maintained that the payments were made in accordance with relevant ordinances.

It is also reported that Choi filed a request with the Election Commission to be reimbursed approximately 40 million won in campaign expenses. Under current election law, unless there have been violations related to political funds, investigation for sex crimes or voluntary resignation as a council member does not, by itself, limit campaign reimbursement. As a result, it is expected the expenses will be reimbursed later this month following review by the Election Commission.

Choi had been elected as a candidate of the People Power Party in the June 3 local elections and began his term as a Cheongju City Council member on July 1. However, after police launched a forced investigation into allegations including sex with a minor and producing exploitative material, he resigned from office on July 16, citing personal reasons—the day after a search and seizure was conducted. His term of just 16 days marks the shortest in Cheongju City Council history.

As Choi resigned, police are investigating allegations that, from 2024 through last year, he met a middle school girl through a chat application, offered her money or cigarettes in exchange for sex, and produced exploitative material. Police have also uncovered indications that Choi asked the victim to introduce other friends, prompting an expansion of the investigation to determine if there are additional victims. Authorities have secured three mobile phones—including two seized and one voluntarily provided by Choi—for digital forensic analysis. Depending on the results of the evidence review, a new request for a detention warrant will be considered.

Police have also restarted efforts to secure Choi’s recent communication records. On July 23, Cheongju Cheongwon Police Station applied to the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office to preserve Choi’s communication records for the past year, and the prosecution requested the telecommunications companies to preserve the data on the same day.

On the 22nd, regarding the prosecution's rejection of the communication warrant for Choi Youngjoong, former Cheongju City council member accused of child prostitution, Seo Youngkyo and other members of the Democratic Party of Korea visited the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office to protest in the morning of the 22nd. Yonhap News

Requests for electronic data preservation are intended to prevent the deletion of electronic evidence, such as communication records, while search and seizure warrants or communication warrants are pending. Telecommunications companies are required to preserve the requested data for up to 60 days and may grant a single 30-day extension for justifiable reasons. However, preservation alone does not allow investigative authorities to access these records. To actually obtain communication records, a separate warrant must be issued by a court.

Previously, police had applied for a warrant to access Choi’s communication records to check for additional victims, but the prosecution rejected the application, citing insufficient grounds relating to separate criminal offenses. Following subsequent criticism over delays in the investigation and the rejection of the warrant, Minister of Justice Jeong Seongho stated in the National Assembly that he would immediately take steps to preserve the electronic data. The specific charges against Choi remain under police investigation as of July 24, and no court verdict has been reached.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.