Among 75 Victims, 26 Identified... Police Urge Active Reporting to Punish Participants
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 were 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 Yoo Byung-don] As controversy arose over the sexual exploitation materials produced and distributed through the Telegram 'Baksa Room' being redistributed on social networking services (SNS), the police have launched a full-scale investigation.
The Cyber Safety Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 1st, "We have begun investigating over 100 SNS posts related to the distribution of sexual exploitation materials produced by 'Baksa Room' operator Jo Joo-bin."
Earlier, the police arrested Jo Joo-bin (24), the operator of Baksa Room, on charges of threatening minors and women to produce and distribute sexual exploitation videos, and sent him to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment.
However, controversy continued as videos posted in the Baksa Room were being secretly redistributed or traded for money through Telegram, other online messengers, and SNS.
A police official stated, "Redistributing or selling sexual exploitation materials causes serious secondary and tertiary harm to the victims," and emphasized, "We will pursue this to the end and strictly punish those responsible."
The police are investigating additional crimes committed by Jo and focusing on identifying paid members who participated in the chat rooms.
The police confirmed 74 victims related to Baksa Room, including 16 minors, and have received one additional victim report, which is also under investigation. This brings the total number of Baksa Room victims to 75.
When the police handed Jo over to the prosecution last month, they had identified 22 victims, and have since identified the identities of four more victims.
The police explained that they are thoroughly protecting the identities of the victims and coordinating with the Digital Sexual Crime Victim Support Center to ensure that related sexual exploitation materials are deleted and blocked.
A police official urged, "We ask for active victim reports so that Jo Joo-bin and others involved in the crimes can receive severe punishment."
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