Choi Young-jung, a former Cheongju city councilman facing charges of child sex trafficking, leaves Cheongju District Court after a detention hearing on Sept. 30 and boards a transport vehicle. [Yonhap]
Choi Young-jung, a former Cheongju city councilman facing charges of child sex trafficking, leaves Cheongju District Court after a detention hearing on Sept. 30 and boards a transport vehicle. [Yonhap]

Choi Young-jung, a former Cheongju city councilman standing trial on charges of buying sex from minors, admitted to most of the allegations against him in court Thursday.

Cheongju District Court's Criminal Division 22, presided over by Judge Han Sang-won, held the first hearing in the case against Choi, who was indicted and detained on charges including quasi-rape of a minor and violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth from Sexual Abuse — covering habitual production and distribution of sexual exploitation material, purchase of sex from minors, and grooming conversations for sexual exploitation purposes.

During police and prosecutors' investigations, Choi's defense had denied the charges, saying Choi had engaged in sexual relations with the victims but was unaware they were minors. At Thursday's hearing, however, Choi said, "I acknowledge most of the charges. I am reflecting on my actions." Choi did deny some allegations related to producing sexual exploitation material.

The defense argued that producing sexual exploitation material requires planning or directing the filming, and that Choi did not engage in such conduct with respect to some of the charges. The defense also contended that while Choi had exchanged sexual conversations with the victims, the purpose was not to obtain sexual exploitation material, and that applying the habitual production charge was therefore unwarranted.

Choi is accused of luring three minors, including a middle school student identified as A, with promises of money and having sexual intercourse with them four times between October 2024 and November 2025. Choi also faces charges of demanding that four minors between the ages of 13 and 18 — including A, whom Choi met through a chat app — send photos of their bodies on eight occasions between July 2024 and January this year, receiving 13 such images and sharing them with an acquaintance, and producing sexual exploitation material on three occasions.

Choi, a People Power Party member who won a seat in the June local elections this year, was expelled from the party after the case became public just two weeks into the term.


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