Man Acquitted of Attempting to Lure Minor with Money for Drinks

A man in his 50s has been acquitted of charges related to attempting to lure a minor for drinking. On July 19, 2025, the Chuncheon District Court's Chief Judge Kim Taek-seong ruled in favor of the defendant, identified as A (56), who was accused of attempting to entice a 15-year-old girl, referred to as B, to drink alcohol with him.

The incident occurred late at night in November 2023 when A approached B and her friends, suggesting they drink together. Despite B informing him of her minor status and declining the offer, A allegedly insisted, saying, 'I can give you 300,000 won each, a total of 600,000 won. I’ll buy the drinks, so let’s go to my house.' B and her friends rejected his proposal and reported him to the local police station.

Judge Kim acknowledged that A did indeed offer money to B and her friends to drink with him. However, after reviewing CCTV footage and witness statements, the judge concluded that the evidence did not support the charge of attempted luring of a minor.

For the charge to be valid, it must be proven that the accused used deception or temptation to entice a minor away from their existing relationships or protective circumstances. Judge Kim stated that the evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to establish that A had the intent to commit the crime of luring a minor.