"Thank You for Stopping the Devil's Life"... 'Doctor' Jo Joo-bin Sent to Prosecution Today (Comprehensive)

Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials which he then distributed, is coming out of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the morning of the 25th to be sent to the prosecution. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Bong-gi and Song Seung-yoon] Jo Joo-bin (24), the 'Doctor' of the 'Telegram n-bunbang' case, who threatened women to produce and distribute sexual exploitation materials, was handed over to the prosecution on the 25th.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent Jo, who was detained on charges including violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse, to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment.

Jo, who had been held at the Jongno Police Station detention center, had his face revealed as he left the police station around 8 a.m. on the same day. Since his arrest on the 16th of this month, he had attempted self-harm during police investigations, resulting in a neck cast and bandages on his head.

Without wearing a mask, he made a prepared apology statement at the photo line, maintaining a calm demeanor throughout. He said, "To President Son Seok-hee, Reporter Kim Woong, Mayor Yoon Jang-hyun, and all those who have been harmed by me, I sincerely apologize," adding, "Thank you very much for stopping the devilish life that I could not stop." He declined to answer further questions from the press regarding admission of guilt and other matters.

Jo is accused of luring victims with part-time job offers, obtaining nude photos showing their faces, then threatening them to film sexual exploitation materials and distributing them in the Doctor's Room. According to police investigations, Jo also stole personal information of victim women and paid members of the Doctor's Room through social service agents working at district offices and community centers, using this information as a means of threat and coercion.

The police judged Jo's crimes to be malicious and repetitive, and held a 'Personal Information Disclosure Review Committee' the day before, publicly revealing Jo's name, age, and face. This is the first time personal information has been disclosed due to a sex crime rather than a violent crime such as murder.

Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials which he then distributed, is coming out of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the morning of the 25th to be sent to the prosecution. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Citizens gathered in front of Jongno Police Station on the day raised their voices, demanding "the maximum sentence be imposed." Political parties such as the Basic Income Party, Women's Party, and People's Party, as well as civic groups like Halbindan, urged investigations, saying, "Those who participated after watching videos in the Doctor's Room should also be punished," even after Jo was transported by a prison van.

Arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office around 8:40 a.m., Jo did not respond to any questions from the press and was immediately led into the building by investigators. The prosecution did not place Jo at the photo line in accordance with the 'Regulations on Prohibition of Disclosure of Criminal Cases,' enacted in December last year.

Jo met with a human rights supervisor and an assigned chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the same day before being taken into custody. It is currently known that he is likely to be detained at Seoul Detention Center, though there is also a possibility of being held at Seoul Eastern Detention Center. The prosecution plans to conduct additional investigations on Jo for up to 20 days before bringing him to trial.