Calculators & Self-ChecksProsecution Request Estimator

Forcing someone into prostitution by violence, threats, deception, etc.: statutory penalty and likely requested sentence

The statutory penalty for Forcing someone into prostitution by violence, threats, deception, etc. and the likely handling of the case depending on your circumstances. The results are for reference only.

Statutory penalty
Up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 100 million
Legal basis
Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts, Article 18(1)(1) to (3)
Category
Sex crimes · Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts

Calculate with your own circumstances

Likely handling

Detention considered

Handling standard
Detention as a rule

This is a serious crime for which investigation in detention is, as a rule, considered.

Statutory penalty

Up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 100 million

Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts, Article 18(1)(1) to (3)

  • A fine is requested together (except in lighter cases, such as a short period of business with little profit). The sentencing guidelines apply.
  • Money and property obtained through the crime are confiscated or collected.
  • If the victim is a person with a disability, the request is one step heavier.

This is only an estimate based on how investigative agencies usually handle cases. The actual decision and request depend on the facts of the case and the judgment of the prosecutor in charge. The final sentence is decided by the court.

What the handling steps mean

  1. Detention considered · Detention (구속): being held in custody during the investigation and trial under a court warrant when there is a risk of fleeing or destroying evidence
  2. Formal trial · Formal trial (구공판): the prosecutor asks the court for a trial, and you stand before a judge in a courtroom
  3. Summary fine · Summary indictment (약식기소): a procedure in which a fine is set on the documents, without a trial in a courtroom
  4. Suspension of indictment possible · Suspension of indictment (기소유예): the wrongdoing is recognized, but the prosecutor takes various circumstances into account and closes the case without sending it to trial
  5. Referral to the Family Court possible · Domestic or juvenile protection case: instead of criminal punishment, the Family Court imposes protective dispositions such as counseling, a no-contact order or community service

Handling standards at a glance

Listed from heaviest to lightest. The actual decision depends on the results of the investigation and your circumstances.

  1. Detention considered

    Handling standard
    Detention as a rule

    This is a serious crime for which investigation in detention is, as a rule, considered.

Notes

  • A fine is requested together (except in lighter cases, such as a short period of business with little profit). The sentencing guidelines apply.
  • Money and property obtained through the crime are confiscated or collected.
  • If the victim is a person with a disability, the request is one step heavier.

Frequently asked questions

Forcing someone into prostitution by violence, threats, deception, etc.: what is the statutory penalty?
Legal basis: Act on the Punishment of Arrangement of Commercial Sex Acts, Article 18(1)(1) to (3). Statutory penalty: Up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to KRW 100 million.
Forcing someone into prostitution by violence, threats, deception, etc.: how is the case usually handled?
Depending on the circumstances, it may be handled as follows: Detention considered. Enter your circumstances in the calculator above to see which one applies.

Other crimes in the same category

See the full list of crimes

This is only an estimate based on how investigative agencies usually handle cases. The actual decision and request depend on the facts of the case, such as a settlement, prior convictions and how the crime happened, and on the judgment of the prosecutor in charge; the final sentence is decided by the court. If you are about to be questioned, do not rely on this result alone and talk to a lawyer first.

Want to look at your own case more closely?

Send us a message about your situation. A lawyer will review it and reply.

Message us

© 2026 JISAN LAW. The question structure, the organisation of the criteria, the result wording and the data on this page are works and a database created by JISAN LAW. Copying, distributing or modifying them, reusing them on other websites or services, or collecting them automatically (scraping) without permission is prohibited. Violations may lead to civil and criminal liability under the Korean Copyright Act and the Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act.