Concerns Over Lenient Punishments for 'n번방' Users
64.2% of Child and Youth Sexual Crime Cases in 2017 Received Suspended Sentences... Only 6.4% Received Imprisonment
In Advanced Countries Like the US, Those Attempting to Obtain Child Sexual Exploitation Material Face Up to 10 Years Imprisonment
Telegram Doctor's Room operator Jo Joo-bin is leaving Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the 25th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Juhyung Lim] Amid public outrage over the 'Telegram n번방' case, in which minors and women’s sexual exploitation materials were distributed for money in secret Telegram chat rooms, doubts have been raised about whether the perpetrators will receive proper punishment. There have been criticisms that similar digital sex crimes in the past have been met with lenient penalties.
On October 16 last year, Son, the operator of 'Welcome to Video,' the world's largest child sexual exploitation material distribution site with 1.28 million members, was arrested through investigative cooperation among 32 countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. From 2015 to 2018, Son distributed over 250,000 child sexual exploitation materials through the site, earning more than 400 million KRW in profits.
However, Son was sentenced to only 1 year and 6 months in prison. Among about 150 Koreans who uploaded or downloaded videos on the site operated by Son, most received only fines. This is in stark contrast to a user arrested in Texas, USA, who was sentenced to 5 years and 10 months in prison for downloading child pornography once and accessing it once.
As a result, concerns have arisen that n번방 users may also receive lenient punishments. According to data from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, as of 2017, 64.2% of sex crimes against children and adolescents, including illegal filming and distribution, received suspended sentences, while only 6.4% received prison sentences.
On the other hand, in advanced countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, those involved in the production and consumption of child sexual exploitation materials are punished as serious criminals regardless of the details of the crime. According to the U.S. federal law, the 'Child Pornography Prevention Act,' anyone who produces, distributes, receives, or possesses child pornography, as well as those who attempt to obtain it, can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. If the victim is under 12 years old, the sentence can be increased up to 20 years.
In the National Assembly, calls for strong punishment of the suspects in the 'n번방' case continue. Jin Sun-mi, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and former Minister of Gender Equality and Family, emphasized at the 'Emergency Meeting to Strengthen Punishment for Telegram n번방 Sexual Violence' held at the National Assembly on the 24th, "The perpetrators need the strongest punishment, not fines or sentence reductions."
She added, "Operators produce and sell child sexual exploitation materials, and members participate in paid purchases and distribute illegal filming materials, resulting in crimes against humanity," urging, "Strong investigations and crackdowns must swiftly apprehend all those involved in the crimes."
Since even simple subscribers or video possessors participate in forming the digital sex crime ecosystem, appropriate sentencing is necessary.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Min Gap-ryong announced on the same day that a thorough investigation will be conducted not only on the operators who produced and distributed sexual exploitation materials on Telegram but also on all participants, including those who possess the videos.
Commissioner Min, responding to five public petitions related to the n번방 case, stated, "Once the investigation is complete, all illegal actors other than the operators will be strictly prosecuted and their identities disclosed in accordance with relevant procedures and regulations."
He added, "We will thoroughly investigate all participants, including accomplices and video producers of the 'Doctor's Room,' as well as members who joined and distributed videos, to reveal the full truth," and said, "We will work with determination to eradicate digital sex crimes that destroy human souls and threaten the social community so that they can no longer take root in our society."
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