"We Won't Get Caught" Soranet, Webhard, Telegram... The Evolution of the 'Crime Stage' [Playground of Devils 'n-bunbang'②]

Crimes Committed on Overseas Server Messengers like Telegram After Soranet Shutdown
Perpetrators Confident, Mocking Authorities... Hunting Women Like Prey
Issue Lies in Punishment Severity: Light Penalties Compared to US and Other Countries
Women's Groups Demand Strong Punishment... 2.4 Million 청 Petition for 'Doctor' Identity Disclosure

[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han] [Editor's Note] An unspeakable 'women's human rights violation incident' occurred in a Telegram chatroom. Those using nicknames such as 'GodGod', 'Watchman', and 'Doctor' threatened numerous women, including minors, referred to them as so-called 'slaves', and sold sexually exploitative materials for money. The men enjoyed the women's screams. Their crimes are beyond what can be reflected in an article. Due to concerns about 'secondary damage', the situation at the time was described with expressions like 'souls were destroyed' and 'they died.' We investigated what happened in the so-called 'n번방' and what can be done for the victims.

On the afternoon of the 19th, Jo, the operator of the Telegram messenger 'Baksa Bang,' was seen coming out after a warrant hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul. Jo is accused of threatening minors and others to film sexual exploitation materials and distributing them on Telegram. Photo by Yonhap News

Soranet, webhard, dark web, Tumblr, Telegram, Discord….

Digital sex crimes targeting women, including minors, continue unabated, moving their stages as if mocking public authority. One of the Telegram 'n번방' operators, 'Doctor', also scoffed at police investigations.

The identity of 'Doctor' revealed through a media outlet is a 25-year-old man named Jo Joo-bin. Jo and other digital sex offenders exploited the fact that Telegram's servers are overseas, making it difficult for investigative agencies to track them, and committed their crimes.

Not only Telegram but also other messenger services with overseas servers are used by criminals for the same reason.

The background to their brutal crimes is closely related to this. Meanwhile, the number of female victims of digital sex crimes has rapidly increased. According to the Korea Communications Standards Commission, the number of sex crime videos subject to correction requests rose fourfold from 3,636 cases in 2015 to 16,263 cases in the first half of 2019.

◆ The 'belief' that they would not be caught... crimes becoming more brutal, women hunted like prey

Emboldened, 'Doctor' committed his crimes without hesitation. He literally hunted for victims. He lured victims with high-paying part-time jobs. The messenger used for conversations with victims was Telegram.

Meeting victims on Telegram, 'Doctor' claimed there was a 'sponsor part-time job' and said that if they spent time talking with men he introduced, they would be paid a lot, thus beginning his crimes.

Later, 'Doctor' demanded victims send photos showing their face and resident registration card together, claiming it was necessary for advance payment. He also requested bank account numbers and contact information. Having secured all personal information of the victims, 'Doctor' introduced men through secret chatrooms.

One such man demanded nude photos from the victim and even asked for a photo with underwear worn on the head, showing no hesitation in perverse acts.

When a victim sensed something was wrong and said she could no longer do the part-time job, 'Doctor' turned hostile. Using the previously obtained personal information, he threatened to send photos to the victim's acquaintances and demanded even more explicit photos.

Meanwhile, the victim was being sold to someone under the name 'Telegram slave girl.' 'Viewers' lined up by following Telegram links, paid virtual currency, and waited for the opening of 'n번방' such as Room 1, Room 2, Room 3, created by 'Doctor.'

Women like the victims were trapped in those rooms, some of whom were minors.

One woman posted nude photos with words like 'slave' and 'Doctor' written on her body. 'Doctor' even fabricated fictional characters by adding 'stories' to the victims. Viewers read these stories and applauded and cheered.

The victims' chat records with 'Doctor' had already disappeared, making it impossible to collect evidence of threats and coercion.

Meanwhile, other 'n번방' operators, the second and third 'Doctors', also confined victims in Telegram secret chatrooms, creating and selling sexually exploitative materials for money. Viewers kept flocking in.

◆ Police shut down core 'Soranet' server in 2016... responses to Tumblr, Telegram, Dark Web

Then, the criminals' belief that Telegram was absolutely safe began to waver. A man known as A, who operated an 'n번방' like 'Doctor', was caught by police earlier this year. While they were brutally destroying victims' dignity in the criminal scene of Telegram, police in the real world were intensifying investigations.

Police have reportedly arrested 124 suspects involved in digital sex crimes using Telegram, including the 'Doctor Room' and 'n번방'.

According to police on the 22nd, since September last year, the National Police Agency has investigated sex exploitation chatrooms on Telegram and arrested a total of 124 people, including Jo, known as 'Doctor', and detained 18.

The first substantial success in cyber sexual violence investigations by police dates back to 2016. At that time, through cooperation with the Netherlands, the core server of 'Soranet', the largest domestic pornography site, was shut down.

However, since then, criminals like 'Doctor' have sought messenger services using other overseas servers to establish crime scenes.

These include Tumblr, Telegram, and the dark web. Police also responded. In March 2018, cyber sexual violence investigation teams were established in 17 provincial police agencies nationwide.

In August 2018, the National Police Agency also opened a cyber sexual violence investigation team. This dedicated team directly investigates cases requiring international cooperation among cyber sexual violence incidents in provincial agencies nationwide.

Seizure and search of 'overseas servers,' which criminals like 'Doctor' rely on most to continue their crimes, is not impossible.

If a company claims difficulty in cooperation due to servers being overseas, investigative agencies dispatch personnel directly to the country to retrieve server records or cooperate with local investigative agencies.

Summarizing police investigation responses, if someone commits a crime, the criminal is inevitably caught.

◆ Light punishments that distress victims... women's groups call for introducing collective sexual violence concept and heavier penalties

The problem lies in the severity of punishment. 'Doctor' faces charges under the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act for producing and distributing child pornography, as well as charges of threat, coercion under the Criminal Act, and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act.

Considering the extent to which he destroyed the souls of women, his charges are weak.

Also, under current law, most user acts who are not 'n번방' operators are likely to receive light punishments. The Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes only criminalizes filming, distribution, and provision.

In cases of sexually exploitative videos or photos featuring adult women, even if they are illegal recordings, there is no provision to punish those who only watch without directly filming or distributing.

This is why there are criticisms that digital sex offenders receive light punishments. According to data from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, as of 2017, 64.2% of sexual crimes against children and youth, including illegal filming and distribution, received suspended sentences, and only 6.4% received imprisonment.

In contrast, in advanced countries like the United States, anyone involved in child sexual exploitation material crimes is punished as a serious offender regardless of the crime's details. Those who filmed, permitted filming, or produced the material are all charged if any connection to the crime is found.

According to the U.S. federal law 'Child Pornography Act,' not only those who produce, distribute, receive, or possess pornography involving minors under 18 but also those who attempt to obtain it are subject to punishment. It literally 'wipes out' offenders.

Moreover, those convicted of knowingly possessing child pornography can be sentenced up to 10 years. If the minor in the pornography is under 12, the sentence can be extended up to 20 years.

Consequently, women's groups are calling for strong punishments appropriate for crimes that destroy victims' souls, like those committed by 'Doctor.'

Women's organizations coalition proposed △punishment for threatening acts using sexual images as leverage △introducing the concept of 'collective sexual violence' and imposing heavier penalties for displaying or sharing sexual images online such as in Telegram rooms △punishment for possession of illegal recordings △punishment for refusal to delete illegal recordings △specifying and punishing online service providers' obligations △revising the elements of rape crime △defining online grooming and introducing criminal penalties under the Criminal Act.

The Telegram Sexual Exploitation Joint Countermeasures Committee recently stated in a declaration, "Digital-based sexual exploitation involves an unspecified number of people watching videos together and conspiring to re-record," and argued, "When sexual images are displayed or shared online, the concept of 'collective sexual violence' should be introduced and heavier penalties imposed."