Former FT Island member Choi Jong Hoon files another appeal over prison sentence

Choi Jong Hoon has submitted a new appeal to the Korean Supreme Court against the prison sentence he received over charges of aggravated rape involving him and singer Jung Joon Young.

The former FT Island member originally received a five-year prison sentence but was reduced to two years and six months after the second trial held on May 12.

According to a statement made by Choi Jong Hoon's representatives, “The fact that Choi Jong Hoon reached an agreement with the victim, it has greatly affected his sentencing. However, he continues to deny the charges and lacks sincere self-reflection.”

On the other hand, Jung Joon Young had not submitted a written agreement with the victim thus only reducing his sentence to five years.

Yesterday, May 18, Choi Jong Hoon's lawyer filed an appeal to the Seoul High Court to object to the sentence he received in the recent trial.

Along with Joon Young's case, the two will now be heading to the Supreme Court.

The two Korean pop stars were found guilty late last year for gang-raping two different victims on two separate occasions in 2016. They were joined by three other unnamed individuals.

The case was the highest-profile example of “molka,” a new kind of sex crime sweeping South Korea wherein men are exposed to be secretly filming women in schools, public toilets, and elsewhere.

The Korean stars were discovered during a separate police investigation involving K-pop star Seungri -- who has been charged with supplying prostitutes to potential business investors.

Alongside their respective criminal charges, Choi Jong Hoon and Jung Joon Young will undergo 80 hours of counseling for sexual violence and will face a five-year restriction of employment at facilities related to children, adolescents, and the disabled.

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K-pop stars Jung Joon Young and Choi Jong Hoon receive new sentences after court appeal