Professional baseball player of LOTTE team Seo Jun-won gets probation for PIM production

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https://sports.news.nate.com/view/20241011n00939:

(Export News, Reporter Kim Ji-soo): Former professional baseball player Seo Jun-won, who was indicted on charges of producing sexually exploitative material of minors, was sentenced to suspended sentence in the appeal trial.

On the 10th, the Busan High Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Park Jun-yong) dismissed the prosecutor's appeal and upheld the original sentence of 3 years in prison and 5 years of suspended sentence for Seo Jun-won, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth from Sexual Abuse (producing and distributing sexually exploitative material, etc.) and the Child Welfare Act.

The court stated the reason for dismissing the prosecutor's appeal, saying, "As a public figure who receives public attention, he committed a crime without setting an example and is likely to be criticized," and "However, considering that the crime occurred on only one day, the video was not distributed, and an agreement was reached with the victim for 20 million won, the sentence in the first trial does not seem too lenient."

Seo Jun-won, born in 2000, was a top prospect who graduated from Gyeongnam High School in 2019 and joined the Lotte Giants, a professional baseball team in his hometown. He was highly evaluated for his potential and skills, receiving a signing bonus of 350 million won.

Seo Jun-won showed slow growth after his professional debut in 2019, but the team did not spare support, believing in his potential. In 2023, he was also successfully completing the team's overseas training camp and exhibition games.

However, in August 2022, Seo Jun-won was indicted on charges of receiving body photos from a minor he met through a public chatroom on a smartphone messenger, producing sexually exploitative material, and forcing him to commit obscene acts.

Seo Jun-won kept his crimes a secret until March of last year, when a KBO League exhibition game was being held, when he confessed to the team. This was also more of a case of confessing the truth right before his wrongdoings were reported in the media, rather than a confession of conscience due to his inability to overcome his guilt.

The club immediately took a strong stance. It held its own disciplinary committee and ordered Seo Jun-won to leave the team. The nature of the crime was so bad, and since he had hidden his wrongdoings from the club and was investigated by the prosecution, the player could no longer be trusted.

Seo Jun-won was later sentenced to three years in prison and five years of probation in the first trial in September of last year. The prosecution initially demanded six years in prison, but the court sentenced him to three years in prison and five years of probation. He was also ordered to perform 120 hours of community service, 40 hours of sexual violence treatment classes, and a five-year ban on employment at organizations related to children, youth, and the disabled.

In his final statement at the first trial, Seo Jun-won said, “I am ashamed and regretful of myself for trying to relieve the stress accumulated from the strict control of my life within the club and from raising my child in a crooked way,” and promised, “I am truly sorry to the victim, and if given another chance, I will work hard to live a proper life for my parents, wife, and son.”

The first trial court stated, "This is a case where a child or adolescent victim was asked to take photos of their body in exchange for money, and then the victim was threatened after receiving the photos. Considering the method of the crime and the extent of the damage, the guilt is serious." It also said, "Considering that the crime lasted only one day, that the defendant did not distribute child pornography, that the victim's mother was paid the damages and an agreement was reached with the victim, and that this was his first offense, the verdict was made."

Seo Jun-won received suspended sentences in both the first and second trials for producing child pornography, but he is facing another trial for drunk driving.

He caused controversy on May 31 when he caused an accident while driving under the influence (0.03% or higher) at an intersection in Gaekum-dong, Busanjin-gu, Busan.

Seo Jun-won won the 'Choi Dong-won Award', given to the best amateur pitcher in 2018 when he was a third-year student at Gyeongnam High School, and entered professional baseball with flying colors, but he has only shown endless decline due to his failure in self-management and involvement in crime.

The 'Choi Dong-won Award Commemorative Society' stripped Seo Jun-won of the Choi Dong-won Award in March of last year.

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The disparity in punishment between the United States and other countries for sex crimes is truly astounding.