Former Cheongju City Councilman Choi Young-joong [Captured from Cheongju City Council YouTube]

Former Cheongju City Councilman Choi Young-joong, who is facing charges of child sex trafficking, appeared before police on the 26th for an intense 15-hour interrogation.

Former Councilman Choi arrived at the Cheongju Cheongwon Police Station around 2:00 PM on the 26th as a suspect on charges including statutory rape of a minor under the Act on Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse, production of sexual exploitation material, and solicitation of prostitution, and left the station at approximately 5:16 AM on the 27th.

Wearing a mask as he left the interrogation room, Choi responded to reporters' questions—such as "Did you commit these acts knowing the victim was a minor?" and "Are there other victims?"—by stating only, "As this is an ongoing investigation, I have cooperated diligently," before boarding a pre-called taxi.

While walking with his eyes fixed on the floor or directly ahead, he briefly glanced at reporters when asked, "Did you receive the party nomination knowing this was under investigation?"

This marks the second time former Councilman Choi has been summoned for police questioning, following his first appearance in May. It is his first public sighting since the police raid on the 15th after the case surfaced.

It is reported that during the interrogation, police questioned Choi on whether he had demanded nude photographs from the middle school student victim.

The investigation is also understood to have covered potential additional crimes, including whether there were other victims.

While it is not yet known how former Councilman Choi addressed the allegations during this round of questioning, he denied the charges during his first interrogation in May, claiming he "did not know the victim was a minor."

The police plan to decide on the next steps regarding his legal status soon, following an analysis of his statements.

A police official stated, "We cannot confirm specific details as the investigation is currently ongoing."

Former Councilman Choi is accused of engaging in sexual relations with a middle school student on three occasions over a one-year period starting in October 2024 in locations including a vehicle and a motel, and demanding that she take and send him nude photographs (charges include statutory rape of a minor, production of sexual exploitation material, solicitation of prostitution, and sexually exploitative conversation under the Act on Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse).

He is also charged with engaging in sexually explicit conversations, including offering the victim more money if she brought along a friend or sister, showing her videos of himself having sex with other women, and sending messages implying that they should engage in group sex with women of other nationalities.