Users Fearful of Police Investigation into Sexual Exploitation Materials... "A Mirror Image of the n번방 Incident"

Police Track Major Participants in Illegal Filming Distribution... Website Also Investigated
Consultation Floods into Sexual Crime Counseling Cafes
Illegal Filming Still Circulates

[Asia Economy Reporters Seungyoon Song and Jeongyun Lee] Those who purchased, distributed, or viewed sexual exploitation materials are trembling as the police have launched an investigation into a large-scale illegal filming video distribution case and illegal filming material sharing websites, dubbed the "Second n-bunbang."

According to the police on the 12th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has been tracking participants in sexual exploitation material sales rooms created on Telegram since the end of last year. In these rooms, personal information such as the names, addresses, and occupations of over 100 victimized women, along with their sexual exploitation materials, were circulated. Mr. A, who illegally filmed the videos, took an extreme step when the police investigation began. However, before his death, he distributed the videos on the dark web and other platforms, causing the videos to spread rapidly. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had previously launched an investigation into illegal filming material sharing websites, known as the "Second Soranet." Among these was a site named after a famous media company. It was confirmed that the videos were also distributed there.

The police are currently verifying the exact number of members and distribution routes of the sexual exploitation material sales rooms and websites. Since most servers are overseas or use overseas-based messengers, they plan to identify suspects through cooperation requests. No individuals have been booked in either case yet. Due to the nature of illegal websites, where video sharing occurs simultaneously and extensively, the investigation may expand to other sites in the future.

Meanwhile, online cafes and communities for sexual crime counseling, as well as Naver Knowledge iN, are flooded with posts from people worried about having joined such sites or shared videos. Most posts ask about the likelihood of actual punishment after having joined sites under police investigation. This phenomenon mirrors the surge in online inquiries and concerns about sexual crimes following last year's "n-bunbang" incident.

Conversely, illegal filming material trading remains active on the dark web and Telegram. Videos distributed in n-bunbang, Baksa-bang, and other rooms are still being traded. Sellers enthusiastically promote their services, asking buyers to message them via Telegram or 'Session,' an anonymity-focused messenger. One seller contacted directly explained that videos totaling 1.3 terabytes are traded using the cryptocurrency Monero.

Meanwhile, starting September 24, under the revised "Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse" (Youth Sexual Protection Act), police will be able to conduct undercover investigations into digital sexual crimes against children and juveniles. The police can approach criminals without revealing their identity to collect evidence and materials. It will also be possible to disguise themselves as underage females for investigations. Documents, images, electronic records, and other materials for identity disguise may also be fabricated.