Cho Joo-bin (30), who had a total prison term of 47 years finalized on charges including producing and distributing sexual exploitation videos of minors, bragged that he received an "excellence in education award" in prison. He also released a rolling paper he received from fellow inmates in the same cell.
On the 9th, a post Cho Joo-bin uploaded to his blog on the 20th of last month was shared on an online community. The blog was set up in Jan. 2024 through his representative, and it is known to be run by having the representative transcribe and post letters sent from prison.
Cho Joo-bin is currently imprisoned at North Gyeongsang Northern No. 1 Prison in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang (formerly Cheongsong Prison). In Oct. 2021, he had a sentence of 42 years and 4 months finalized on charges including producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials of minors through the Telegram "Doctor's Room."
Separately from the Doctor's Room case, he was additionally indicted on charges of raping a victim who was a minor and producing sexual exploitation materials, and in Dec. last year he had a sentence of 5 years finalized. As a result, Cho Joo-bin's total incarceration period increased to 47 years and 4 months.
According to a post on the blog titled "acceptance speech," Cho Joo-bin said, "I received a commendation. It's to praise my diligent participation in education over three weeks," adding, "Not every trainee can receive a commendation, and since it's a 'proper award' that even comes with a box of cup noodles as a prize, I think it's worth bragging about. I've asked my family to stick it on the home refrigerator."
Cho went on, "Winning an award is a pleasant thing. It's a feeling that comes from having one's efforts recognized. In other words, an award is the fruit of effort," adding, "An award can go to someone unlucky, and for someone underprivileged and unhappy, it becomes an even greater strength."
He added, "The commendation I received has that meaning. It awakens the courage that I, too, can do it, and it's a treasure map and a treasure that makes me grip the rudder of life more tightly," adding, "I never once received an award during my school days. For someone like me to receive an award in prison feels different."
He also said, "I should take this as an opportunity to work diligently throughout this year," and released a photo of the certificate in the name of the prison warden. The certificate stated that Cho Joo-bin had excellently completed "the 2026 first-term intensive character education basic course."
Cho Joo-bin also said he is about to be transferred from North Gyeongsang Northern No. 1 Prison to another correctional facility. He said, "Transfer by will 0, by others 100," adding, "Cheongsong No. 1 Prison is known as a blind spot for human rights." He added, "I think about what it means to be excluded from such a place," and, "Maybe Cheongsong No. 1 is giving me another award."
However, he did not disclose the timing or destination of the transfer.
Finally, Cho Joo-bin released the rolling paper he received from fellow inmates in the same cell. Messages on the rolling paper included, "You seemed to live with an always positive mindset," "It will be hard, but there will be much to feel as you live," "I hope the remaining time passes without incident," and "Hang in there with your prison term."