Jung Joon Young Released from Prison After Completing Sentence for Sexual Assault Charges
Korean media reports that on March 19, Jung Joon Young was released from Mokpo Prison in South Jeolla Province after serving his sentence for his involvement in several sexual assault cases. In the early hours of the morning, wearing a mask and lowering his hat, Jung Joon Young faced reporters as he left the prison without making any statements.
The singer was accused of participating in collective sexual assaults in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, in January 2016, and in Daegu in March 2016, along with members of the “Jung Joon Young Chat Group” including Choi Jong Hoon, Heo, Kwon, and Kim. He was also accused of sharing sexually explicit videos of himself without consent in chat groups starting in late 2015.
In 2019, Jung Joon Young and Choi Jong Hoon were initially sentenced to six years and five years in prison, respectively, for their involvement in sexual violence crimes. However, their sentences were later reduced to five years and two and a half years on appeal. Despite appealing the decision, their sentences were ultimately upheld in September 2020.
The case of Jung Joon Young and Choi Jong Hoon drew significant attention for its disturbing nature and sparked a national conversation about the prevalence of sexual assault and the distribution of explicit content without consent. The public will now be closely watching to see what steps Jung Joon Young will take following his release from prison.