Man fined 10 million won for having sex with minor

A Seoul court judge on Mar. 30 fined a 25-year-old cell phone salesman 10 million won for violating the law on the sexual protection of juveniles.The man, identified only as A, was indicted without physical detention on charges of paying a 17-year-old girl 100,000 won to have sex with him at an inn in Chonho-dong, Kangdong-gu, Seoul.

He met the girl through an Internet chat room in January. The girl was later caught in a police crackdown on so-called ``wonjo kyoje,’’ a form of prostitution involving underage girls and adult men.

Her statement to police led to the man`s arrest. Judge Yun Nam-Keun of the Seoul District Court said he set the fine at 100 times the amount paid by the man for sex. Such offenses are typically punishable by jail terms.

Lee Jung-Eun lightee@donga.com