Insider Insight: Why Lawyer Choi Min-hwan’s Ties to Entertainment Culture May Seal His Fate Beyond a Slap on the Wrist
Regarding FT Island’s Choi Min-hwan, who is suspected of prostitution, lawyer Lee Go-eun, who specializes in sex crimes, predicted, “If prostitution has occurred, it will be difficult to receive a deferred prosecution.”
On YTN Radio’s ‘Wise Radio Life’ broadcast on the 30th, lawyer Lee Go-eun analyzed the transcript containing suspicions of Choi Min-hwan’s prostitution.
Attorney Lee said, “It’s a bit shocking in many ways. In the case of entertainment establishments, it is legal to hire waitresses. “For it to be considered prostitution, there must be sexual intercourse for money or some type of sexual activity, but it usually takes place in lodging establishments after bars rather than in bars,” he said, raising suspicions about prostitution.
However, while this lawyer doubted the level of entertainment for the 2 million won that Choi Min-hwan said he would deposit, he believed that it would be difficult to prove whether the purchase of sex was completed through transcripts alone and that direct evidence was needed.
Attorney Lee said, “While listening to the transcript, I felt, ‘Choi Minhwan is a person who is very familiar with this type of entertainment culture.’ “If it is revealed that he purchased prostitution and the number of cases increases, it will be difficult for him to receive a suspended indictment, even if it is his first offense, and it is highly likely that he will be fined or more,” he pointed out.
In addition, lawyer Lee said, “If a divorce suit is filed (for this reason), it could easily be a cause for fault as it goes against the couple’s duty of chastity. “It could be very detrimental,” he added.
When asked if Choi Min-hwan’s putting money into the chest of Yul-hee’s pajamas and touching major body parts could be considered a sexual crime, he answered, “Even between married couples, rape or forcible molestation can be committed. However, it is difficult to admit it between married couples because the tolerance range is wide,” he said.
Choi Min-hwan currently has custody of the three children. Attorney Lee said, “If Choi Min-hwan’s charges were child abuse, then of course we could seriously consider changing custody, but in fact, I think it would be difficult to immediately change the custody of the child to Yul-hee just because of prostitution.”
Previously, Yulhee from LABOUM, who broke up with Choi Minhwan, revealed on her YouTube channel, “One of the reasons for my divorce from Choi Minhwan was his visits to entertainment establishments.” Yulhee was also shocked when she revealed that Choi Minhwan had put money in her chest and touched her important parts in front of her family.
Reporter Kim Ji-hye jahye2@edaily.co.kr