청원 "Son Jung-woo US Extradition Denied... Remove Judge Kang Young-soo's Supreme Court Justice Qualification"

Court Denies Extradition of Son Jung-woo to US for Operating World's Largest Child Sexual Exploitation Site
Blue House Petition: "Judge Denying Son Jung-woo's Extradition Unfit for Supreme Court Justice Candidate"

On the 6th, a petition titled "Request to Disqualify Kang Young-su, Senior Deputy Chief Judge of the Seoul High Court, from Being a Supreme Court Justice Candidate" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As public outrage grows over the court's refusal to extradite Son Jung-woo (24), the operator of the world's largest child and youth sexual exploitation site "Welcome to Video" (W2V), a petition calling for the disqualification of presiding Judge Kang Young-soo from being a Supreme Court justice candidate has been posted.

On the 6th, a petition titled "We Petition to Disqualify Kang Young-soo, Senior Presiding Judge of the Seoul High Court, from Being a Supreme Court Justice Candidate" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner began by saying, "Kang Young-soo, who is currently a candidate for Supreme Court justice, presided over the W2V case, the world's largest child sexual exploitation site, and simultaneously refused the extradition of Son Jung-woo, the operator of the site and a global criminal, to the United States."

He criticized, "A livelihood-related criminal who stole a carton of eggs received a sentence of 1 year and 8 months. However, Son Jung-woo, who created the world's largest child sexual exploitation site and whose victims include children only a few months old, received a sentence of 1 year and 6 months for inciting and leading such a horrific crime."

The petitioner questioned, "Is this truly a just ruling?" and expressed outrage, saying, "If someone who made such a ruling becomes a Supreme Court justice, just imagining what kind of country would be created is frightening. Wouldn't it be a paradise for child sexual offenders?"

Son Jung-woo, the operator of the world's largest child sexual exploitation site 'Welcome to Video,' was released on the afternoon of the 6th after the court's decision to deny extradition to the United States, leaving Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

He strongly criticized, "A person who incited child sexual exploitation worldwide and profited from it serves only 1 year and 6 months and is now released into society. To boldly claim that 'investigations and trials within Korea can also resolve this' is an arrogant statement only possible because the judge is not a child and belongs to the privileged elite who will never suffer sexual exploitation in their lifetime."

He added, "Such a person who issues rulings against public opinion and basic morality cannot be considered qualified as a Supreme Court justice candidate. We petition for the disqualification of this candidate."

As of 3:30 PM on the same day, the petition had garnered 99,724 signatures. Having met the preliminary requirement of over 100 endorsements, it is currently under administrator review.

Earlier that day, the Criminal Division 20 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kang Young-soo, Judges Jung Moon-kyung and Lee Jae-chan) decided not to approve the extradition of Son Jung-woo, operator of the world's largest child sexual exploitation site "Welcome to Video" (W2V).

The court explained, "To eradicate child and youth pornography crimes, thorough investigations targeting consumers of pornography and members of the 'Welcome to Video' site are necessary. Among those who downloaded pornography from 'Welcome to Video,' only a very small number have been identified through international cooperative investigations. If Son is extradited to the U.S., it is difficult to rule out the possibility that Korea will be unable to secure the identities of users and that investigations will be hindered."

It continued, "The purpose of the extradition system is not to send criminals to places where they can be punished more severely. In this case, Korea, as Son's country of nationality and a sovereign state, can exercise criminal punishment authority proactively. Considering the need for Korea to secure Son's custody and actively utilize it during investigations, and in light of the interpretation of the extradition treaty and laws, it is deemed appropriate for Korea to exercise criminal punishment authority over Son."

However, the court added, "Son and his lawyer have stated that even if he receives a heavy sentence domestically, he will accept his punishment. This decision does not grant Son immunity, and he is expected to cooperate with forthcoming investigations and trials and receive just punishment."