Police have launched a forced investigation into a sitting Cheongju City Councilor accused of engaging in prostitution and producing sexual exploitation materials involving minors.
On July 15, Chungbuk News reported that the Cheongju Cheongwon Police Station conducted a search of the offices and home of Choi Young-jung, a 34-year-old councilor from the People Power Party, seizing computers and digital storage devices containing relevant materials.
The police have charged Choi with violating the Child and Youth Protection Act (prostitution and production of sexual exploitation materials) and are currently investigating the specifics of the case.
According to investigators, Choi is alleged to have engaged in prostitution and solicited minors he met through a chat application multiple times between October 2024 and May 2025. Reports indicate that the victim is a middle school student under the age of 16, and Choi allegedly used money or cigarettes as bait to demand sexual relations in vehicles and motels, during which sexual exploitation materials were reportedly recorded.
The investigation began in March following a report from the victim's parents, and police plan to confirm the circumstances of the crime through digital forensics of the seized materials.
Choi has denied all allegations. In a phone call with Chungbuk News, he stated, "It was not prostitution. We had known each other for a long time," and claimed he was unaware that the other party was a minor.
He added, "There has been no court ruling yet, and I feel wronged. I will provide a detailed statement soon."
Meanwhile, media outlets such as MBC's 'Real Investigation Team,' JTBC's 'Incident Report,' and SBS News have reportedly begun investigating the claims, but the facts remain to be verified through further investigation.
Following the search, police will analyze the materials obtained and investigate the specifics of Choi's alleged actions and charges.
In various online communities, discussions about the councilor have emerged, with comments such as, "If they knew each other for a long time, how could he not know she was a minor?" and "If the allegations are true, he should be expelled from office."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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