Cyber Sexual Violence Offenders Won't Be Left Alone... Gyeongnam Police Agency Arrests 100, Detains 7

Intensive Crackdown on Production, Distribution, and Possession of Child Sexual Exploitation and Obscene Materials

Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency has arrested 100 suspects involved in the production and distribution of child sexual exploitation materials by October this year, detaining 7 of them.

On the 28th, the provincial police agency announced that over the past 10 months, they conducted an intensive crackdown on cyber sexual violence, apprehending individuals who produced, possessed, or distributed child sexual exploitation materials, illegal recordings, fake videos, and illegal sexual videos.

From October 2020 to March this year, 15 people, including a 35-year-old man who used overseas subscription-based video platforms to produce and sell illegal sexual videos and earn criminal proceeds under the guise of subscription fees, were arrested.

Among them, 3 were detained, and approximately 900 videos distributed by them were deleted and blocked, while all criminal proceeds amounting to about 1.5 billion KRW were confiscated and preserved.

According to the police, they promoted site accounts on SNS and charged subscribers 20,000 to 30,000 KRW monthly to provide illegal sexual videos.

Additionally, the police arrested 34 individuals involved in the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual exploitation materials, as well as distribution of illegal recordings, using undercover operations, detaining 4 of them.

From January to March this year, a 19-year-old man who approached victims he met through random chats and SNS, threatened to distribute photos using personal information he obtained, and produced and distributed sexual exploitation materials was arrested and detained.

Investigations revealed that the man produced about 79 sexual exploitation materials from 5 victims, threatening to spread videos if the victims blocked contact or did not comply.

The videos were sold by sharing URLs (links) via SNS, charging about 10,000 to 20,000 KRW per video.

A table showing the status of cyber sexual violence crime crackdowns and the crackdown status by age group of suspects and victims. [Image source=Gyeongnam Police Agency]

According to the provincial police agency, among the total 86 arrests, 34 cases (39.5%) involved child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials.

Illegal recordings accounted for 28 cases (32.6%), and illegal sexual videos for 23 cases (26.7%).

The majority of suspects were in their 30s (36 people), and the largest group of victims were teenagers (14 people).

The provincial police agency stated that they will strengthen crackdowns on new illegal distribution networks that could expand into sexual exploitation and illegal recording crimes for greater profits, and actively utilize undercover investigation systems to expand investigations not only on producers and sellers of child sexual exploitation materials but also on buyers and possessors.

A police official said, “Crimes involving the production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials targeting children and adolescents are serious offenses that destroy victims’ lives, and we will respond strictly,” adding, “To prevent cyber sexual violence crimes among youth, it is necessary for young people to be cautious and for guardians to take active interest, so please remember the prevention guidelines.”