Pediatric dentist sentenced for possession of child pornography

Ryan K. Buchanan U.S. Attorney | US Attorney's office Northern District of Georgia

Paul Kim, a pediatric dentist from Sandy Springs, Georgia, has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing child pornography. Kim was found with thousands of images and videos depicting minors, some as young as 12 years old, engaged in sexually explicit activities.

"Parents entrusted their children to Kim for pediatric care, while unbeknownst to them, he was amassing thousands of images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors," stated U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. He emphasized the commitment of his office to prosecuting those who exploit and abuse children.

Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, remarked on the disturbing nature of the case: "This case is particularly disturbing because it is an example that child predators come from all walks of life." He assured that the FBI would continue to pursue individuals involved in such crimes regardless of their social status or occupation.

The investigation into Kim was part of a larger probe into a commercial sexual exploitation ring selling child pornography online. The FBI identified Kim as a purchaser during this investigation. In December 2023, agents executed a search warrant at Kim's residence and seized approximately 30 electronic devices containing about 1,948 images and 798 videos of child sexual assault material.

U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. sentenced Paul Bogeun Kim, aged 31, to three years and two months in prison followed by ten years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty on August 23, 2024.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in February 2006 aimed at protecting children from online exploitation and abuse by coordinating efforts among federal, state, and local resources.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood or related inquiries, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office via email at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or phone at (404) 581-6016. Additional details can be found on the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia website at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.