'Accomplice of Jo Joo-bin' Former Social Service Agent Referred to Prosecution

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Former social service worker Choi Mo (26), who was arrested on charges of illegally accessing personal information and providing it to Jo Joo-bin (24, in custody), the operator of the Telegram 'Baksa Room,' has been handed over to the prosecution.

The Cyber Safety Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that Choi, who was arrested on charges including violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, was sent to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment.

Choi is accused of illegally accessing the personal information of about 200 people while working as a social service worker at a community service center in a district of Seoul, and providing the personal information of 17 of them to Jo Joo-bin. It is understood that Choi is currently not working at the community center as he has been discharged from service.

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@

Based on the data obtained in this way, Jo is believed by the police to have flaunted his information power in the 'Baksa Room' he operated, while threatening female victims and committing sexual exploitation crimes.

The police are investigating other social service workers involved in the 'Baksa Room' along with Choi, as well as public officials who worked at the same place. The Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has also booked and is investigating current and former public officials who worked at Songpa District Office in Seoul and Yeongtong District Office in Suwon on charges of dereliction of duty.

The police plan to investigate these public officials to determine how the social service workers were allowed to access personal information and whether they were given network IDs and other credentials.