Jung Joon Young, aged 35, has been released from jail after completing a five-year sentence for his involvement in group sexual assault and the unauthorized dissemination of sexual videos.
The singer was convicted for his participation in various sex crimes associated with the Burning Sun scandal.
On March 19, 2024, at 5 AM, the singer who had been convicted was granted parole and released from Mokpo Prison in Jeollanam-do.
Jung Joon Young (JJY) and former FT Island singer Choi Jong Hoon were arrested and accused of involvement in the gang rape of women in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, in January 2016, as well as in Daegu in March 2016.
Additionally, JJY was accused of distributing unauthorized sexual videos of women within a KakaoTalk group chat that included multiple celebrities, including Seungri, in 2015.
In September 2020, he was convicted by the Supreme Court and sentenced to five years in prison.
During the initial trial in November 2019, Jung Joon Young received a six-year prison sentence along with an obligation to undergo an 80-hour sexual violence treatment program.
Additionally, he faced a five-year prohibition from employment in child and adolescent-related institutions, welfare facilities for the disabled, and similar establishments.
However, his sentence was later reduced by one year following an appeal.
After serving his five-year prison term for a sexual offense, Jung Joon Young was not required to disclose personal information or wear an electronic ankle monitor, unlike other celebrity sex offenders like Go Young Wook.
The exemption was granted because the court denied the prosecution’s request for protective supervision over Jung Joon Young.
The singer became associated with the widely-known Burning Sun scandal. It was revealed that Jung had covertly recorded and distributed non-consensual sexual videos (referred to as “molka” in Korean) within a chat room that included several other K-pop celebrities, including former Big Bang member Seungri.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Jung and several of his associates were accused and formally charged with raping intoxicated and unconscious women in 2016.
Korean netizens are still dissatisfied with the prison term that Jung Joon Young served, stating that it is too short. Added, “Seeing things like this makes you wonder what kind of country we live in, where criminals are treated so leniently! When such issues arise and anger the entire nation, is five years the only punishment the judge can give?” “Five years have already passed? “He should’ve stayed there longer,” “People can’t be fixed,”.
Jung gained prominence by participating in the fourth season of the Mnet reality TV series Superstar K in 2012. Subsequently, he achieved success with numerous popular singles and albums released between 2013 and 2018.
However, he retired from the entertainment industry in 2019 after the scandal.
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