30s Man Receives Suspended Sentence for Involvement with Runaway Teen

A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year, after being found guilty of violating laws regarding the protection and support of missing children. The Jeonju District Court announced the ruling on July 5, 2025, alongside a mandate for 40 hours of community service and probation.

The man, referred to as A, lured a 17-year-old girl, B, who had run away from home and was reported missing, to Jeonju through social media with the message, 'Come see your oppa.' At the time, B had severed contact with her surroundings and was living in a state of disappearance.

Under current law, it is illegal for anyone to harbor a missing child without notifying the police unless there is a legitimate reason. Investigations revealed that A was fully aware of B's missing status when he committed the offense.

Additionally, A is facing charges for violating the Electronic Financial Transactions Act after he allegedly provided personal information, including his bank account details and ID photos, to an unidentified loan broker he met online, enabling the use of a so-called 'ghost account.'

The court stated, 'Considering the legislative intent behind the laws protecting and supporting missing children, as well as the circumstances and nature of the crime, the defendant's responsibility cannot be taken lightly.' However, they decided to suspend the sentence due to the fact that the crime was not against the will of the missing child, allowing for probation and community service as conditions for the suspended sentence.