Middle School Teacher Sentenced to 8 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Student

A middle school teacher, identified as A, has been sentenced to eight years in prison by the Supreme Court for sexually exploiting a female middle school student he met through random chat over several years. The court confirmed the original sentence for violations of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, including rape.

The teacher was accused of repeatedly engaging in sexual acts with the student over a two-year period. In the first trial, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and paid 50 million won as a criminal deposit. In the second trial, he reached a settlement with the victim, compensating her with 35 million won.

Additionally, A submitted a letter from the victim stating that she did not wish to pursue punishment and provided over 20 letters of remorse to the court. However, the appellate court dismissed his appeal, maintaining the original sentence. The court noted that A targeted a victim who had not yet established a sexual value system, causing her severe psychological distress and making full recovery unlikely.

The appellate court also stated that the victim's desire not to pursue punishment was not a significant reason for leniency, and even considering the settlement, the eight-year sentence was within the recommended sentencing guidelines and not excessively harsh. A's further appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected, affirming the lower court's decision.