Prosecutors to Summon Jo Joo-bin for 9th Interrogation This Afternoon... Accelerating Investigation of Conspiracy Over the Weekend

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution will summon Jo Joo-bin (24, in custody), the operator of the 'Baksa Room,' who is accused of producing sexually exploitative materials and distributing them on the internet messenger Telegram, for questioning even on Sunday.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Digital Sex Crime Special Investigation Task Force (led by Chief Prosecutor Yoo Hyun-jung) announced on the 5th that Jo will be summoned from Seoul Detention Center for questioning in the afternoon. This will be his ninth interrogation since being transferred from the police to the prosecution.

The prosecution is focusing on supplementary investigations into the charges against Jo related to the 'Baksa Room' and on identifying the conspiracy relationships with accomplices.

The prosecution is conducting investigations without breaks on holidays and weekends. Jo's second detention period is set to expire on the 13th, leaving only eight days for the prosecution to conduct investigations. Because all investigations must be completed and Jo prosecuted within this period, the prosecution is increasing the speed and intensity of the investigation.

The prosecution also summoned Cheon Mo (29), a public official affiliated with Geoje City Hall, who was confirmed to have participated in operating the Baksa Room, for questioning at around 3:20 p.m. the previous day.

Cheon was arrested in January on charges including filming sexually exploitative videos of multiple women, including minors. He was already indicted on February 4 and is currently on trial. The prosecution focused on questioning Cheon intensively about his involvement in operating the Baksa Room through additional investigations.

The prosecution also summoned Kang Mo (24), a social service agent (public service worker) identified as an accomplice of Jo, to inquire about how he came to know Jo Joo-bin and the charges related to the Baksa Room.

Meanwhile, Choi Mo (26), another social service agent (public service worker) accused of illegally accessing personal information and leaking it to Jo, was arrested on the 3rd.

Choi, who was a social service agent at a resident center in a district of Seoul, is accused of illegally accessing the personal information of about 200 people while assisting with the issuance of resident registration certificates and extracts, and providing information of 17 individuals to Jo.