Suspect in his 60s detained for sexually assaulting girl at jjimjilbang after luring her with 'let's play together'

A suspect in his 60s with a prior conviction for sexually assaulting a child at a jjimjilbang, or Korean sauna, has been detained and referred to prosecutors after committing the same offense again at another such facility.

According to police Wednesday, the Seoul Western Police Station detained the suspect, identified only as A, on charges of forcibly molesting a child under the age of 13.

A is accused of approaching a girl under 13 at a jjimjilbang in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on Sept. 5, luring her with the words "let's play together," then undressing and sexually assaulting her.

The victim had visited the facility with family and was briefly left alone when the assault occurred. Investigators determined that A and the victim had no prior acquaintance.

After receiving the report, police reviewed closed-circuit television footage inside the facility and identified A as the suspect.

The investigation revealed that A had previously committed a similar assault on a child under 13 at a jjimjilbang. A is registered as a sex offender and has multiple prior convictions related to sex crimes.

Police had applied for an arrest warrant for A, but prosecutors declined to seek one, citing the principle that voluntary investigation should take precedence.