Jung Joon Young (age 35), who was convicted of group sexual assault and illegal distribution of sex videos, has been released after his five-year prison sentence.
The convicted singer was released on parole from Mokpo Prison in Jeollanam-do on the morning of March 19, 2024.
In March 2019, Jung Joon Young, together with former FT Island singer Choi Jong Hoon, was arrested and charged for their participation in the gang rape of women in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, and Daegu in January and March 2016, respectively.
Moreover, Jung Joon Young faced allegations of sharing illicit sexual videos of women in a KakaoTalk group chat, which involved several celebrities, including Seungri, in 2015. He was sentenced to five years in prison by the Supreme Court in September 2020.
In the first trial held in November 2019, Jung Joon Young was sentenced to six years in prison, 80 hours of sexual violence treatment program, and a five-year employment restriction in child and adolescent-related institutions, welfare facilities for the disabled, etc. However, his sentence was reduced by one year on appeal.
Having completed his five-year prison sentence for a sexual crime, Jung Joon Young was exempted from disclosing personal information and wearing an electronic ankle monitor, unlike other celebrity sex offenders such as Go Young Wook. This is because the court rejected the prosecution’s request for protective supervision over Jung Joon Young.
Korean netizens are still dissatisfied with the prison term that Jung Joon Young served, stating that it is too short. They commented, “Seeing things like this makes you wonder what kind of country we live in, where criminals are treated so leniently! When such issues arise and anger the entire nation, is five years the only punishment the judge can give?” “Five years already passed? He should’ve stayed there longer,” “People can’t be fixed,” “He’s going to start all over again. I bet you he’s already looking for girls,” “He should’ve been given an electronic angle monitor like Go Young Wook,” “Please put him back in,” “He should’ve stayed in jail longer,” “The members in that group chat don’t seem remorseful of their actions,” “Rapist,” and “Ugh I hate him.”
