Telegram Nth Room Teenager, More Cruel to Peers

Experts: "Threats and orders online are perceived as their own power"

Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the Telegram Doctor's Room, is listening to questions from the press at the photo line set up in front of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the 25th of last month. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Among the participants in the 'Telegram n-bang' case, who created, produced, distributed, and sold sexual exploitation materials involving minors, there were teenagers who victimized their peers. The characteristics of teenagers, who easily access and skillfully handle digital information, ironically made them more vulnerable to digital crimes. Experts point out that these teenagers, who felt suppressed and frustrated at school and home, likely experienced a strong sense of power and stimulation through the n-bang.

According to the police on the 5th, among the 140 suspects arrested for producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials on social networking services (SNS) such as Telegram, 25 were teenagers. Among them were key suspects such as 'Lori Daejang Taebeom (19)', who operated the 'Second n-bang' imitating the 'n-bang'; 'Taepyeongyang (16)', who acted as a promoter for 'Doctor's Room' run by 'Doctor' Jo Joo-bin and recruited about 10,000 members; and 'Kirby (18)', who distributed invitation links to child sexual exploitation sharing rooms similar to n-bang.

The ages of suspects related to n-bang are 78 in their 20s, 30 in their 30s, and 3 in their 40s. The police are verifying the ages of the remaining 4. Among the 140, 29 were chatroom operators. Fourteen were distributors, and 97 were confirmed to possess sexual exploitation materials. There were no criminal minors under the age of 14 among the suspects.

◆Why Were Teenagers Cruel to Their Peers? = Why did so many teenagers participate in the n-bang case? Experts point out that the profits gained through n-bang and the criminal acts of threatening victims to produce sexual exploitation videos were perceived as a form of 'power,' leading to reckless behavior.

Professor Daekyung Kwak of Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration said, "Teenagers likely found appeal in the online world where they could act freely without constraints or pressure," adding, "In the process of threatening their teenage female peers and producing sexual exploitation videos, they probably felt a sense of power they had never experienced in reality."

Professor Soonjong Choi of Kyonggi University's Department of Youth Studies said, "Teenagers easily access and utilize digital information," and "As a result, they are often exposed to crimes." Professor Choi also pointed out the responsibility of adults who created a distorted sexual culture. He said, "There is already a system requiring the designation of 'Youth Protection Officers' on major internet sites, but it is ineffective," and added, "Adults who exposed various adult advertisements and distorted sexual cultures online without filtering or managing them are also responsible for the n-bang case."

Under the current Information and Communications Network Act, businesses with an average daily user count of 100,000 or more, or sales exceeding 1 billion won, are required to appoint a Youth Protection Officer to effectively protect youth from harmful media or information on the information network. The Youth Protection Officer is responsible for blocking and managing harmful information to youth on the network and establishing plans to protect youth from such harmful information.

◆Strict Punishment but Keeping the Door Open for Rehabilitation = Social outrage over n-bang is greater than any other case. Over 2 million people agreed with the Blue House petition demanding the disclosure of the identities of all n-bang members. Past cases where relatively light sentences were given because the offenders were 'juveniles' have been recalled, fueling public opinion for heavier penalties.

The police are considering disclosing the identities of Jo Joo-bin's accomplices, but teenagers are expected to be excluded from identity disclosure. According to the current 'Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes (Special Violent Crimes Act),' the conditions for identity disclosure are ▲ the crime must be a cruel specific violent crime ▲ there must be sufficient evidence to prove the crime ▲ it must serve the public's right to know and public interest ▲ and the suspect must not be a juvenile.

Professor Kwak said, "Since the investigation is still ongoing, it is premature to discuss punishment," but added, "Depending on the severity of the crime, juveniles under 18 may receive protective measures instead of criminal punishment." He continued, "The system to distinguish and provide protective measures for immature juveniles from adult offenders is still necessary," and emphasized, "Our society needs to make efforts to impose corrective punishments tailored to individual circumstances and help them reintegrate into society."