Shaman who raped disciple with exorcism threats sentenced to 5 years

A court has sentenced a 70-year-old shaman and Buddhist monk to five years in prison for repeatedly raping a disciple in her 30s under the pretense of performing an exorcism ritual.

The First Criminal Division of the Busan District Court's Eastern Branch, presided over by Chief Judge Lee Dong-ki, convicted the defendant, identified only as A, on charges of rape, quasi-rape and sexual intercourse with a person under his protection, according to Yonhap. The court also ordered him to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and barred him from employment in relevant fields for five years.

A was indicted for assaulting his disciple, a fellow shaman in her 30s identified as B, in a vehicle and at a hotel around January 2024. He allegedly threatened her by claiming that the spirit of a deceased teacher had taken hold of her body and that an exorcism was required, warning that if she refused to have sex with him, she would be driven to suicide, her family would suffer misfortune and she would lose the ability to speak.

A denied some of the charges, claiming the encounters were consensual.

The court accepted all counts in the indictment, finding that A had exploited his position of authority and B's religious dependence on him to commit the crimes.

"He used force against B when she refused to have sex with him, and continuously brainwashed and threatened her about the necessity of intercourse — including by performing rituals with a bladed object," the court said. "He committed multiple offenses by exploiting the victim's religious and psychological vulnerability, and the victim appears to have suffered severe psychological harm. He has shown no remorse and has made no effort to make amends," the court added in explaining the sentence.