Korean news outlet SBS News has revealed new details about Seo Won Jeong, better known as Mama Boy’s case. He is currently facing seven years in prison for sexual assault and illegal filming charges. Read ahead to find out more about the non-celebrity influencer’s case and why the punishment appears misfitting.
Trigger Warning: The article mentions details of sexual assault that might be unsuitable for some. Reader’s discretion is advised.
Police investigate Seo Won Jeong’s sexual assault case
The South Korean influencer who went viral on TikTok and Instagram for his comic videos shouting ‘Mama!’ was arrested by the police on December 12 after his female friend filed a complaint of sexual assault and illegal filming. The case allegedly took place in July 2023 around the same time when the influencer stopped updating his content.
Korean TikTok star and YouTuber, Seo Won Joeng, also known as ox_zung or Mama Boy, has been arrested on sexual assault charges, according to reports in Korea. pic.twitter.com/8DmVpjC6ky
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) December 24, 2023
The initial investigation revealed that Seo Won Jeong and his friend forced the victim to drink until she lost consciousness and took her to the friend’s house with cruel intentions. In the privacy of their house, they allegedly took turns sexually assaulting the victim until she regained consciousness.
The victim soon realized the situation and also heard the sound of a video recording. Not only that, SBS News has mentioned that the two defendants refused to open the door when police arrived and the officials had to take the assistance of firemen to arrest them for further investigations.
Prosecutors demand 7 years imprisonment
After the initial investigation, Seo Won Jeongs’s case was submitted to prosecutors who demanded seven years in prison while dropping the charges of illegal filming over ‘lack of evidence.’
https://twitter.com/jungcook7luv/status/1739919250800902427?t=VaJQZgj5NTF22LxTzn3gYg&s=19
The first hearing of the trial is scheduled on January 17, 2023, and news outlets believe that he will be pleading ‘not guilty’ as he stated that the incident was consensual. However, after hearing the details of the allegations netizens believe that the sentence is too lenient.
The minimum punishment for rape in South Korea is 5 to 6 years. As the influencer is accused of intentionally intoxicating the victim and refusing to assist when the police arrived, netizens believe he should be facing more years if he is proven guilty.
More conclusions about the case are expected to be disclosed in the upcoming trial. However, this case has greatly impacted the fame and reputation of ‘Mama Boy.’
More about ‘Mama Boy’
The South Korean influencer rose to fame on the short-form video-sharing platform TikTok during the pandemic. His shouting of ‘Mama’ in a particular tone with blank doe eyes became his catchphrase garnering him over 55M followers.
He was also invited for many interviews and crowned by Forbes in their 30 Under 30 Asia 2023 list for his rising influence over global audiences. His recent controversial case has greatly impacted his success as fans feel betrayed by his alleged cruelty which is in stark contrast to his videos that went viral for his innocence.
This case has also initiated a discussion about the shortcomings of social media where nobody can truly know what type of person they are watching, liking, and engaging with.
That’s so bad I supported him