What did South Korea’s Supreme Court decide in Jeong Myeong-seok’s sexual offense case?

The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court’s 17-year prison sentence after finding no errors in the verdict. It also finalized a 15-year electronic tracking order and a 10-year ban on employment at child-related facilities.

How many victims and incidents were involved in Jeong Myeong-seok’s finalized conviction?

The conviction covered 23 instances between February 2018 and September 2021 involving two foreign female followers and one Korean female follower. Jeong was also charged with filing countercharges against the two foreign victims.

Could Jeong Myeong-seok receive additional prison time?

Yes. Jeong was standing trial on additional charges of rape and sexual assault involving other female congregants, and a guilty finding in those proceedings could increase his total time in prison.

Supreme Court finalizes 17-year prison term for religious leader over sexual offenses

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Summary

The Supreme Court finalized a 17-year prison term for Jeong Myeong-seok on Thursday for raping and sexually molesting female followers. Jeong was convicted over 23 incidents involving two foreign followers and one Korean follower between February 2018 and September 2021. The court also upheld a 15-year electronic tracking order and a 10-year ban on working at child-related facilities.

Key Facts

Jeong was 80 when the Supreme Court finalized the sentence.
A district court initially sentenced Jeong to 23 years, but an appellate court reduced the term to 17 years because the original sentence exceeded sentencing-guideline recommendations.
The appellate court found that religious brainwashing left the victims psychologically unable to resist Jeong’s sexual acts.
Jeong was also charged with making false accusations by filing countercharges against the two foreign victims.
Jeong is facing additional rape and sexual-assault charges involving other female congregants.

Published Jan 9, 2025 12:03 pm KST
Updated Jan 10, 2025 8:49 am KST

This picture provided by Daejeon District Prosecutors Office, shows Jeong Myeong-seok, left, Feb. 18, 2019. Yonhap

The Supreme Court on Thursday finalized a 17-year prison term for Jeong Myeong-seok, the leader of a controversial religious organization, the Jesus Morning Star (JMS), on charges of raping and sexually molesting his female followers.

Jeong, 80, was indicted with physical detention on charges of raping or sexually assaulting two foreign followers and one Korean follower on 23 occasions between February 2018 and September 2021.

He was also charged with making false accusations by filing countercharges against the two foreign victims.

A district court had sentenced Jeong to 23 years in prison, but an appellate court reduced the term to 17 years, saying the initial ruling would exceed the recommendation under sentencing guidelines.

The appellate court at the time recognized that the victims were in a psychological state of mind that made them unable to resist the defendant's sexual acts due to religious brainwashing.

Jeong appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling, citing no errors in the verdict.

The top court also finalized the order for Jeong to wear an electronic tracking bracelet for 15 years and banned him from working at child-related facilities for 10 years.

Meanwhile, Jeong is standing trial on additional charges of rape and sexual assault against other female congregants, which could increase his time in jail if found guilty. (Yonhap)

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