▲ The owner of a 'slave PC room' who has completed the warrant review 


The owner of a PC room in his 30s who abused and exploited young people in their 20s under the pretext of unfair contracts was significantly reduced in the appeals court. 



Yesterday (5th), the 1st Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court (High Court Judge Lee Seung-chul) overturned the original trial against Mr. Lee (37), who was charged with habitual special injury and intimidation, and sentenced to 7 years in prison in the first trial, and sentenced him to 3 years in prison. sentenced. 



In addition, he ordered the completion of an 80-hour sexual assault treatment program and a 5-year ban on employment in institutions related to children, youth and the disabled. 



From September 2018 to May 2021, Mr. Lee was charged with assaulting and sexually assaulting 7 people in their 20s, including Mr. A, who had signed a partnership agreement with the PC room, 76 times.



He is also accused of paying the victims less than the minimum wage and overdue wages worth a total of 520 million won.



Mr. Lee operated more than 13 PC rooms in Gwangju and Hwasun, South Jeolla Province, advertised for investors, and then entrusted the management of PC rooms by attracting victims and signing a joint investment contract. 



According to the victims, Mr. Lee forced them to write an illegal contract with unfavorable conditions such as 'compliance with the sales target', 'compensation of 20 million won per day in case of absenteeism without leave', and 'full payment of shares and proceeds', and then forced them to work. 



In addition, he imprisoned the employees under the guise of a camp, forced them to monitor each other, assaulted them from time to time for falling sales or being late, and even made them eat animal feces.



He even threatened to kill his family if he ran away, saying that he knew gangsters.



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▲ Demonstration demanding arrest for owner of 'slave PC room' 


In response, the 'Civil Society Meeting for Truth Investigation of Hwasun Slave PC Room (Jun)' held a press conference in front of the Gwangju District Prosecutor's Office on June 15, 2021 and said, "We arrest the owner of a slave PC room who violated the social rookies in Gwangju and Hwasun, and strongly punish them." be punished." 



At the time, they said, "Even though there was a crime against humanity and there were additional victims, the prosecution twice rejected the arrest warrant requested by the police and had the perpetrator investigated without detention." And the victims are trembling in fear of a second retaliation."



The first trial judge said, "There are many victims, and they committed the crime over three years." I am pleading for this severe punishment.” 



As a result of the first trial, Mr. A appealed that the sentence was too heavy, and the prosecutor each appealed that the sentence was too light. 



However, the appellate court said, "The quality of the crime is very bad and there is a high possibility of condemnation, but all 6 out of 7 victims agreed." It is.  



Meanwhile, the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Corporation said, "The victims in this case were unfairly restrained from their mental and physical freedom through forced labor, assault, and cruelty by Mr. A."

He admitted to having an occupational disease.



(Photo = Yonhap News)