Released from 'Digital Gyodoso' but... "Stigmatized as a sex offender, entire daily life destroyed"

'Migital Gyodoso' Victim MMA Fighter Kim Doyun
Stopped YouTube Activities and Closed Shopping Mall Due to Wrongly Posted Personal Information
Repeated Incidents Whenever 'Personal Information Disclosure' Sites and Accounts Appear
Limitations of Verification Procedures Relying on External Reports... Experts Warn "Innocent Victims Continue to Multiply"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] "My daily life has completely collapsed. I don't understand why I have to go through this."

Kim Do-yoon (30), a mixed martial arts fighter and YouTuber, was recently incarcerated and then released from the website 'Digital Prison,' which arbitrarily discloses personal information of criminals and others. Kim is one of the victims whose personal information was directly mentioned by a person who identified himself as the second-term operator of Digital Prison and apologized on the 11th. In July, Digital Prison identified him as a suspect related to the 'Miryang sexual assault case' and posted his personal information. However, it turned out that Kim was just a namesake and had no connection to the case. Only after Kim's side clarified the truth did Digital Prison remove the information and apologize, but by then about two weeks had passed, causing severe damage.

Hundreds of malicious comments were posted on every video on his YouTube channel, and some even visited the shopping mall he operated to pour criticism. Unverified facts, including his personal information, spread uncontrollably on online communities and social networking services (SNS). Unable to endure it, Kim temporarily stopped his YouTube activities. Recently, he also decided to close his shopping mall, judging it difficult to continue operating. Kim said, "Even now, when someone contacts me or I meet people, I first fear how they will think of me," adding, "I heard that the Digital Prison site will continue to operate, and surely victims like me will appear again."

This is not the first time that personal information disclosure sites, which have sprung up following the so-called 'Nth Room incident,' have caused victims like Kim. Previously, a similar incident occurred with an Instagram account engaged in activities similar to Digital Prison. A person identified as A, who was maliciously reported and had their personal information disclosed, was able to clear their name only after repeatedly proving they were not involved. However, online, A had already become labeled as a heinous sex offender. Another victim, B, who suffered the same fate, reportedly experienced such severe mental distress that they could not go outside for a while.

Malicious comments directed at Kim Do-yoon, a victim of the 'Digital Prison' personal information disclosure./Photo by Kim Do-yoon

Such controversies have also been ongoing with the Telegram 'Scarlet Letter,' which has conducted personal information disclosure activities under the guise of a 'vigilante group.' Not only in this case but also in the past when so-called 'sniper accounts' named 'OO Patch' flooded the scene, many innocent victims emerged.

Those who disclose personal information do not have investigative authority and generally rely on external reports to identify 'criminals.' Although they are presumed to conduct some cross-verification, ultimately, they only inquire around the target's acquaintances or investigate past records to compare with alleged crimes. As seen in previous cases, if someone harbors a grudge and fabricates data or reports another person's information, it is practically difficult to verify the truth. This was also the case with Professor Jaeong-ho Chae of the Department of Psychiatry at Catholic University Medical School, whose personal information was posted on Digital Prison but later proven innocent.

Professor Geon-su Lee of the Department of Police Science at Baekseok University pointed out, "Private-sector personal information disclosure with lax data verification and disclosure standards inevitably has limitations," adding, "It will not only continue to produce victims but also undermine trust in the state's judicial authority, negatively affecting the judicial system itself." However, since these activities stem from distrust of investigative and judicial institutions, there is also an opinion that society needs to reflect on the purpose behind them.

The Digital Prison site, which on the 11th only displayed a statement from the 'second-term operator,' has now been fully restored and resumed operation. On the 14th, the Korea Communications Standards Commission held a Communications Review Subcommittee meeting and decided to request correction (access blocking) for only 17 posts with clear illegality instead of blocking the entire Digital Prison site.