Suspect Threatening to Distribute Illegal Filming Material Escapes During Trial... Gyeongnam Women's Group Demands Severe Punishment

Women’s organizations in the Gyeongnam region have called for the strict punishment of a man in his 20s who fled while on trial for extorting money by threatening to distribute illegal recordings.

The Gyeongnam Women’s Welfare Counseling Center and Facility Council, consisting of 44 organizations including sexual violence counseling centers and women’s groups in the province, held a press conference in front of Changwon District Court on the morning of the 3rd, stating, “The victim is suffering from severe mental distress as the perpetrator has not been detained.”

They demanded ▲ immediate detention of the perpetrator ▲ establishment of safety and protection measures for the victim ▲ and strict punishment of the perpetrator.

According to the council and the Gimhae Seobu Police Station, Mr. A met Ms. B through an online game in 2019 and, while dating, forced her to film sexual intercourse scenes by saying, “Long-distance relationships are difficult, so I want to watch the videos whenever I want.”

Ms. B refused several times but eventually complied with Mr. A’s persistent demands and asked him to delete the videos.

Mr. A verbally abused her and threatened, “If you don’t give me money, I will spread the sex videos,” extorting about 40 million won from Ms. B.

Ms. B even took out loans to give him the money, but when Mr. A did not delete the videos and continued to threaten her, she reported him to the police in November 2021.

Gyeongnam Women's Welfare Counseling Center and Facility Council are holding a press conference demanding the arrest and strict punishment of the perpetrator.
[Photo by Changwon Jungbu Police Station]

At that time, the police applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. A on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes and extortion, but the prosecution reportedly did not request the warrant, citing no risk of flight.

Mr. A, who was on trial without detention, fled in November last year.

A wanted notice was issued for Mr. A, but his exact whereabouts remain unknown.

The council stated, “The perpetrator threatened to sell the videos to make money if the demanded money was not provided on time,” adding, “He urged the victim to give up her life and threatened to harm her family.”

They continued, “The perpetrator made various excuses to avoid attending the trial, and during that time, he was released on bail by Daegu District Court on another charge while not detained. Even after being released on bail, he did not attend the trial and fled, causing the trial to be indefinitely suspended. Simply issuing an arrest warrant and wanted notice cannot protect the victim.”