Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok: "Digital Sexual Exploitation Materials Are Social and Serial Character Assassination"

Lee: "Deleting Sexual Exploitation Material is Important for Victims... Will Find Efficient Deletion Methods"

Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok is answering questions from the press on the afternoon of the 21st at the Korea Women's Rights Promotion Institute in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Amid the recent continuous occurrence of digital sex crime cases such as the ‘Second n번방’ incident, Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok stated, "The acts of producing, distributing, possessing, and viewing digital sexual exploitation materials are social murder and serial personality murder."

On the 21st, during his visit to the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center located in Jung-gu, Seoul, Prosecutor General Lee told reporters, "First of all, deleting sexual exploitation materials is important for the victims," adding, "I understand that, practically, several organizations including the Victim Support Center under the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute and the Korea Communications Standards Commission are already consulting on this matter, and we will find more efficient ways to delete such materials."

He continued, "(Eradicating digital sex crimes) is not something that only the Victim Support Center, prosecution, police, and related agencies can do," emphasizing, "As digital technology advances, similar new types of crimes may continue to emerge. Simply punishing offenders is not enough; we will focus on education and raising awareness so that these crimes are socially eradicated."

Prosecutor General Lee listened to explanations from the Victim Support Center officials regarding illegal video deletion procedures and victim support measures, stating, "The prosecution will also strive to protect and support victims so that they can quickly return to their daily lives."

To eradicate digital sex crimes, the prosecution is, in principle, seeking imprisonment not only for supply crimes such as producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials but also for demand crimes such as possessing such materials. Additionally, through the Cyber Investigation Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office and the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center, they are actively deleting and blocking illegal videos to prevent the spread of sexual exploitation materials, while simultaneously providing psychological treatment, legal support, and other protections and assistance to victims.

Regarding the case of Jeon Ju-hwan (31), who killed a station attendant in the women's restroom at Sindang Station on the Seoul subway after stalking, he said, "The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which handles violent crimes, has formed a separate investigation team to thoroughly investigate the motive and circumstances of the crime and is expected to present results," adding, "We have been preparing victim support even before the case was sent to the prosecution and will carry it out flawlessly."

In the morning, Prosecutor General Lee visited the National Assembly and exchanged greetings for the first time since his appointment with Kim Do-eup, Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Jeong Seong-ho, Chairman of the Special Committee on Criminal Justice System Reform, and the floor leaders of both ruling and opposition parties.