채팅 앱으로 만나…최영중 청주시의원, 아동 성매매 혐의 [MBN 뉴스7]

【 Anchor Comment 】 A city council member in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, has been subjected to a forced police investigation on suspicion of engaging in prostitution with a minor and filming related videos. It is reported that he demanded sexual relations from a female middle school student he met through a mobile phone chat app, offering her money or promising to buy her cigarettes. Reporter Kim Young-hyun reports. 【 Reporter 】 This is inside the Cheongju City Council building in North Chungcheong Province. City council members, as well as staff, are bustling about in the hallway. City Council Member Choi Young-jung, affiliated with the People Power Party, was subjected to a police search and seizure on suspicion of child prostitution and the production of child sexual exploitation material. ▶ Interview: Na Seung-gyun / Head of Women and Youth Division, Cheongju Cheongwon Police Station, North Chungcheong Province "We are verifying things like asking the child to take pictures of herself and send them." The police secured relevant materials, including computers and digital storage devices, not only from the council member's office but also from his constituency office and residence. Representative Choi is reported to have engaged in sexual relations with a middle school student on two to three occasions over a seven-month period starting in October 2024, in locations including vehicles and motels. It is reported that he demanded sexual relations from the student, whom he met through a chat app, by offering money or promising to buy cigarettes. Evidence was also found that he proposed a relationship or demanded that the student film and send sexually exploitative material, such as nude photos and videos. Police, who launched an investigation last March following a report from the victim's parents, discovered relevant conversation records on the student's mobile phone. During a police investigation last May, Representative Choi stated, "I admit to the prostitution," but claimed, "I did not know she was a minor." Controversy is escalating as it was revealed that he ran for and campaigned in the local elections and was elected while under police investigation for prostitution. It was also revealed that he had a history of receiving a suspended indictment for past charges related to prostitution. The People Power Party immediately expelled Representative Choi. ▶ Standing: Kim Young-hyun / Reporter "The police plan to analyze the seized materials and then summon the lawmaker in question to investigate the detailed circumstances of the case. This is Kim Young-hyun from MBN News." Video Coverage: Kim Jun-ho VJ Video Editing: Lee Dong-min Copyright MBN. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited. ☞ Subscribe to MBN YouTube ☞ https://goo.gl/6ZsJGT 📢 MBN YouTube Community https://www.youtube.com/user/mbn/comm... MBN Facebook   / mbntv   MBN Instagram   / mbn_news