"Do You Have Adult Videos?" From Pornographic Content to Gambling... The Illegal Hotspot 'Adult PC Bang'

'Adult PC Bang' Known as a Hotspot for Illegal Activities
Pornography, Prostitution, and Gambling Games
Light Punishments Including Up to One Year Imprisonment Raise Concerns

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] As an employee working at a so-called 'adult PC bang' in Gwanak-gu, Seoul was arrested on the 6th for stabbing a man in his 50s multiple times with a weapon over a fare dispute, awareness is growing regarding adult PC bangs, known as hotbeds of illegal activity.

Adult PC bangs are socially problematic as they provide customers with illegal pornographic videos, so-called 'yadong,' to gain unfair profits, and also offer gambling games that enable illegal betting activities.

On November 28, 2018, a group distributing pornographic videos and illegally filmed materials through adult PC bangs nationwide was caught by the police.

The police arrested two people, including 39-year-old Lee, on charges of selling about 24,000 pornographic videos and 1,693 illegally filmed materials to adult PC bangs, and five others, including telephone room operators, were booked without detention.

Lee and others were caught on charges of building a web server in Japan from 2015 to October 2018, creating a pornographic site accessible only from affiliated adult PC bangs, and receiving about 600 million won over three years by charging 200,000 won monthly from 136 franchise stores nationwide.

Police investigations revealed that adult PC bangs and telephone room operators who received pornographic videos from them installed PCs in enclosed spaces and showed pornographic videos to visitors.

Photo by Yonhap News y Capture

◆ Light Punishments... Adult PC bangs Spreading Like a Poisonous Mushroom

The problem lies in the level of punishment. Even if caught distributing pornographic materials and violating related laws (Information and Communications Network Act), the penalty is limited to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.

In particular, adult PC bangs and telephone rooms can register and operate without location restrictions such as near schools or residential areas, unlike general PC bangs, making crackdowns difficult.

As a result, some operators register their businesses as telephone rooms, classified as 'free businesses,' but actually run adult PC bangs. This is why adult PC bangs are spreading like poisonous mushrooms in residential areas.

Among the 136 telephone rooms found by the police at the time of the incident, 16 were located within 200 meters of elementary, middle, and high schools.

Telephone rooms are spaces where customers can talk to strangers of the opposite sex by phone. However, some use telephone rooms to mediate prostitution, causing further problems.

Another issue is that crackdowns are not easy. To avoid detection for illegal distribution of pornographic materials, adult PC bang operators use methods such as clicking a specific button on the computer desktop to hide videos or temporarily freeze the computer, making it unresponsive.

In October 2016, a PC bang in Cheonan, Chungnam, disguised as an ordinary adult PC bang, was caught operating an illegal gambling site. Photo by Police Provided

◆ Issues with Providing Gambling and Other Speculative Games

Adult PC bangs not only distribute illegal pornographic materials but also provide spaces and computers mainly for gambling and other speculative games.

In October 2016, a large-scale gambling ring operating in adult PC bangs in Chungnam was arrested en masse by the police.

They were caught on charges of creating illegal gambling sites for games like Go-Stop and poker from May 2014 to August 2015, installing and operating programs in adult PC bangs nationwide in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungcheong regions.

They installed illegal gambling sites in adult PC bangs across the country, giving PC bang owners 10% of the profits as a condition.

The adult PC bang in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, where this incident occurred, is known to have provided speculative games.

According to police investigations, the employee accused of murder testified that he told the customer, "If your game money is all gone, go home," but the dispute started when the customer asked to play a little longer.

However, the police are currently investigating whether illegal activities such as gambling were taking place at the PC bang at the time of the incident.

Meanwhile, a police official stated that they plan to carry out strong crackdowns on various illegal activities occurring in 'adult PC bangs' and similar places.