Another Possible Minor Victim Found on Cell Phone... Former Cheongju City Council Member Youngjung Choi Referred to Prosecution

Additional Evidence of Minor Victims Found on Cell Phone

Police Identify Two Victims and Continue Investigating Further Crimes

Former Cheongju City Council member Youngjung Choi, who faces charges including the purchase of sex from minors and the production of sexually exploitative material, has been handed over to the prosecution while in custody. Police believe there are currently two minor victims and are continuing their investigation to determine if there were additional crimes.

On August 6, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing Cheongwon Police Station in Cheongju, that Choi was sent to the prosecution under arrest on charges including statutory rape of a minor, production of sexually exploitative material, inducement of prostitution, sexually exploitative communications, and acts such as forcing, facilitating, or sexually harassing a child under the Child Welfare Act.

On the afternoon of the 30th of last month, Choi Youngjung, former Cheongju City Council member accused of child prostitution, was leaving the courthouse after attending a pre-arrest detention hearing at the Cheongju District Court and getting into a transport vehicle. Photo by Yonhap News

Choi is accused of having sexual intercourse with middle school student “A,” whom he met through a chat application, on three separate occasions in locations such as a car and a motel between October 2024 and October 2025, and of demanding that she send him nude photos of herself. He is also accused of proposing to give A more money if she brought a friend or an older girl. In addition, Choi is charged with engaging in sexually explicit conversations, including showing videos of himself having sex with another woman and sending messages that could be interpreted as soliciting sexual activity with a woman of foreign nationality.

This investigation began in February 2025 when A’s parents discovered records of conversations between their daughter and Choi on her cell phone and reported the matter to the police. Choi was summoned for questioning twice, in May and July. During the investigation, police analyzed the cell phone that Choi submitted and obtained messenger conversations and photos exchanged with another individual, presumed to be a minor and not the previously identified victim. The phone also contained photos of a young woman, believed to be a minor, wearing a school uniform. Police determined that there was a high possibility this individual was also a victim and expanded the investigation accordingly, additionally bringing charges for a separate sexual offense against a second minor committed during the same period. As a result, the police have determined that there are currently a total of two known minor victims.

Former lawmaker Choi reportedly admitted to the fact of prostitution during the police investigation but denied the charges on the grounds that he did not know the other party was a minor. Yonhap News

During police questioning, Choi reportedly admitted to the fact of engaging in prostitution but denied the charges, claiming he did not know the other party was a minor. It was reported that Choi did not comply with the police’s request to voluntarily submit his phone, claiming he no longer had possession because it had been sent to a private company for digital forensic analysis. He later submitted the private forensic results to the police, but suspicions were raised that some data had been deleted. On July 30, Cheongju District Court issued a warrant for Choi’s arrest, citing concerns over the possible destruction of evidence.

Choi voluntarily resigned from his seat on the Cheongju City Council on July 16, after news of the police investigation became public. The Chungbuk Provincial Chapter of the People Power Party also held an executive committee meeting on July 20 to finalize Choi’s expulsion from the party. As the maximum detention period expired, police forwarded Choi and the currently verified case records to the prosecution. However, the investigation into additional victims and possible further charges is ongoing. If new criminal facts are confirmed, the relevant records will be forwarded to the prosecution as well. The prosecution will review the case files and evidence submitted by the police and then decide whether to formally indict Choi.

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