Daejeon:A local district court sentenced Jeong Myeong-seok, the leader of the Jesus Morning Star (JMS) religious sect, to a 33-year prison term on Monday for sexually assaulting female followers.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Daejeon District Court's decision exceeded the prosecution's request for a 27-year sentence. Jeong, 81, was found guilty of sexually assaulting or molesting 16 female members of the sect between 2018 and 2022. He manipulated these followers into believing he was the "Messiah," rendering them incapable of resisting his actions.

The court stated that "the ways and means of the crime are very malicious," highlighting the repeated nature of the offenses over a prolonged period, facilitated by Jeong's religious control and influence. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Jeong to wear an electronic tracking device for 15 years and prohibited him from working at facilities for children, adolescents, and disabled people for 10 years.

Jeong is already serving a 17-year prison sentence from a 2025 Supreme Court ruling for sexually assaulting a Hong Kong national, and sexually harassing an Australian follower and a South Korean follower. Prior to this, he completed a 10-year prison term for similar offenses committed overseas between 2001 and 2006 and was released in February 2018.