"Filled with Telegram Pornography" 20s Whistleblower from 'n번방' Shares Feelings

Whistleblower A in the 'n번방' Case Arrested for Past Operation of 'Obscene Content Room'
Witnessed Numerous 'n번방' While Running 'Obscene Content Room'
Expresses Feeling Envious of 'Baksa Room' Member Who Made Extreme Choice

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 Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The 'n번방' (Nth Room) case, in which minors and women were threatened to produce and distribute sexual exploitation materials, has come to light, causing a significant social shock. The sexual offenders who operated the 'n번방' illegally obtained personal information of the victims and committed crimes by threatening to send nude photos to their families or acquaintances.

Among them, Mr. A, a man in his 20s who was caught by the police last October for sharing 'obscene material rooms' on Telegram and is currently under non-custodial investigation, recently posted a statement in a Telegram chatroom explaining the circumstances of his crimes.

He is currently acting as a whistleblower related to the 'n번방' case, exposing the crimes of Jo Joo-bin (25, detained), the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' (Baksa Bang).

On the 25th, as the vehicle carrying Cho Ju-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who is accused of producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram, left the Jongno Police Station in Seoul and headed to the prosecution detention center, citizens held a picket protest demanding severe punishment for Cho Ju-bin. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Clicking Telegram Links on Online Communities: "There Were Really Many Obscene Materials... Witnessed the n번방"

According to Mr. A, he accessed a Telegram chatroom through a link on the DC Inside Domestic Baseball Gallery in March last year.

He explained the situation at the time: "There were really obscene materials in the Telegram chatroom, and there were links to other rooms. There were the OO Gallery (illegal filming of female students in school uniforms), △△ Lolita Room (sharing child and adolescent materials), N번방 (GodGod), and deepfake sharing rooms."

Then, he began operating a chatroom that directly shared obscene materials. Regarding the background of committing such crimes, he said, "Others were doing it, so I thought I should too," "All the porn sites were blocked, so I had to watch here," and "But I had no obscene materials to share, so what should I do? I decided to become the room leader."

Regarding the operation period of the chatroom, Mr. A explained, "I operated it from March to September 2019, and the rules of the room were no lolita (minor obscene materials), no chatting, no hateful posts, and to upload seven items per week. Then, everyone would upload to see each other's obscene materials."

He added, "I don't know where those obscene materials first appeared. However, they were commonly circulating on internet porn sites. As I operated the room, the number of people reached 4,000, and the materials reached 40,000."

A man suspected of participating in the Telegram 'Doctor's Room,' an internet messenger group involved in producing and distributing child sexual exploitation materials, jumped into the Han River. According to the police on the 27th, at around 2:47 a.m., a man in his 40s, Mr. A, made an extreme decision at the Yeongdong Bridge over the Han River. The photo shows the area near Yeongdong Bridge over the Han River on the afternoon of the 27th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "I envy the Doctor's Room member who paid for his sins with death"

As the room became active, Mr. A converted it to a paid room. He confessed his feelings at the time of the crime, saying, "From the end of August, I received cup noodles, OO chicken, 5,000 won cultural gift certificates, Cafe OO, and 200,000 won twice from five people to enter the room. I had a wrong value that 'I'm doing a good thing by satisfying others' needs.'"

He continued, "Then, in early September, realizing the danger and that school had started, I thought I should stop and withdrew from Telegram. After that, I was caught by the police in mid-October 2019. Currently, I am under investigation by the police and prosecution and awaiting trial."

After being arrested by the police and stopping his crimes, Mr. A expressed regret, saying, "After being caught, I realized how painful and psychologically distressing it is for a past you want to erase to be circulated among more powerful entities than yourself. I thought this must be how the victims feel."

Regarding a man who is presumed to have taken an extreme measure related to the 'n번방' case recently, he expressed that he 'envies' him.

Mr. A said, "Honestly, I sometimes envy the Doctor's Room member who jumped into the Han River on March 27. He paid for his sins with death, raised social awareness and implemented justice, and I think he will live proudly in his next life."

Currently, he is exposing the crimes of Jo Joo-bin and others in the 'n번방' case as a whistleblower.

Meanwhile, the prosecution will resume the investigation of Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room,' today (30th). The prosecution conducted investigations on the 26th and 27th after receiving the case on the 25th.

The first and second investigations covered the circumstances of opening and operating the 'Doctor's Room' on Telegram, the details of the groups (rooms), the number and ranks of members per group, the operation methods, and the roles of major accomplices.

Jo Joo-bin is accused of threatening minors and women to produce sexual exploitation materials, receiving money, and distributing them in Telegram chatrooms. Before Jo, the suspect under police pursuit for the same charges is 'GodGod' (Telegram nickname). 'GodGod' also operated the 'n번방' and committed despicable crimes against women. The police are currently tracking the IP used by 'GodGod.'

*If you experience difficulties due to illegal filming or distribution of photos or videos, threats using such materials, or sexual harassment in cyberspace, you can receive support from the Women's Emergency Call 1366 and the Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Center (02-735-8994).