Shocking Case: Shaman Faces 7 Years for Motel Exorcism Gone Wrong

Prosecutors on Thursday sought a seven-year prison sentence for a young shaman accused of raping a teenage girl at a motel on Jeju Island under the guise of performing an exorcism.

The Jeju District Court was informed that the defendant violated the Act on Protection of Children and Youth against Sex Offenses in the alleged assault on Feb. 1. According to reports, he lured the underage victim to the motel after connecting with her through a mobile chat application.

The defendant stands accused of sexually assaulting the victim, recording the brutal attack, and using the footage for blackmail. He allegedly threatened to distribute the video to the victim’s friends and parents if she didn’t comply with his demands. On Feb. 3, he reportedly warned, “I will kill everyone around you.”

During Thursday’s court hearing, the defendant admitted to the charges and expressed remorse. However, he claimed that the heinous attack occurred while he was unconscious, citing frequent memory lapses since childhood due to alleged spiritual possession.

“When I regained consciousness after the exorcism, my clothes were off and the video had been recorded… I have deeply wronged the victim. I promise to seek treatment and never conduct an exorcism again,” he told the court.

The verdict and sentencing for the defendant are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Aug. 28. In addition to the prison term, prosecutors are seeking mandatory therapy for sexual violence prevention, public disclosure of the defendant’s information as a sex offender, and a 10-year ban on working at youth-related institutions following his release.