The Whereabouts and Identity of 'Gatgat' Remain a Mystery... Police Say, "We Will Definitely Catch Him"

The Person Who Created the First N-Bang
Admission Fee Accepted as 'Culture Gift Certificates,' Making Tracking Difficult
Police Say "Meaningful Approach" and Seem to Have Secured Some Tracking Clues

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 Lee Gwan-joo] In the Telegram 'Nth Room' case, while the so-called top three operators, 'Doctor' Jo Joo-bin (24) and 'Watchman' Jeon (38), have been arrested by the police, the identity of the nickname 'GodGod' remains shrouded in mystery.

According to the police on the 6th, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency, which is tracking GodGod, has already apprehended numerous suspects related to the Nth Room case. So far, 97 suspects have been confirmed arrested, among whom GodGod's accomplices are also included.

However, GodGod's whereabouts remain unknown. GodGod disappeared last September, saying he needed to prepare for the college entrance exam (Suneung). Since the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency is investigating, it is only presumed that GodGod was involved in past sexual exploitation cases that occurred in the Gyeongbuk area. In fact, individuals who participated in operating the Nth Room alongside GodGod have stated that they do not know GodGod's true identity. However, Watchman Jeon reportedly claimed that GodGod resides in Anseong City, Gyeonggi Province.

According to sources inside and outside the investigation, GodGod's criminal methods were even more sophisticated than those of Jo Joo-bin, who operated the Doctor's Room by imitating the Nth Room later on. Unlike virtual currencies that leave transaction records on exchanges, GodGod collected chatroom entrance fees using 'culture gift certificates,' which are difficult to trace buyers. Having disappeared seven months ago, there is relatively less evidence related to GodGod compared to other operators.

The Nth Room created by GodGod alone caused numerous victims, and as this type of crime spread, the damage increased further. Therefore, GodGod's arrest holds significant symbolic meaning in the Nth Room investigation. The police are tracking GodGod by identifying the IP addresses he used and have dispatched Chief Superintendent Jeong Seok-hwa, the top cyber investigation expert with 20 years of experience, to the Gyeongbuk Police Agency to pursue GodGod.

If GodGod is caught, it is expected that important clues will be secured for understanding the Nth Room crime patterns and identifying additional accomplices. The arrest of GodGod is not the end but the beginning of the Nth Room investigation.

At a press conference that day, National Police Agency Commissioner Min Gap-ryong explained the investigation status of GodGod, saying, "We are approaching it meaningfully." It appears that the police have secured some concrete clues necessary for tracking GodGod. A police official emphasized, "It will take time, but we are using various techniques in full force to find him, so we can catch him."

Additionally, the police are conducting international cooperation to contact Telegram headquarters. A police official stated, "We are continuing the investigation through organizations such as the Dubai police, where the headquarters is located, Interpol, and Europol."