"Seoul National University Version of Nth Room Incident" President Yoo Hong-rim Apologizes "Will Create Measures to Prevent Recurrence"

Forming a TF Including Professors and Students
Establishing a Channel for Reporting Damage
Also Discussing Restrictions on Access to Graduation Photos

Yoo Hong-rim, President of Seoul National University, apologized on the 23rd for the 'Seoul National University version of the Nth Room' incident and announced plans to establish measures to prevent recurrence.

On the 26th, Yoo Hong-rim, President of Seoul National University, is speaking at a discussion on current issues related to medical reform held at the Seoul National University College of Medicine in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The Seoul National University version of the Nth Room incident refers to a digital sex crime committed by two Seoul National University alumni who, starting from July 2021, created obscene images by synthesizing photos of dozens of women including university alumni and distributed them in group chat rooms.

At a press conference held at the Hoam Faculty House of Seoul National University that afternoon, President Yoo said, "There was a regrettable incident involving recent Seoul National University graduates," adding, "As a person responsible for the school and as an educator, I feel a deep sense of sorrow and great responsibility."

He stated, "We have formed a response task force (TF) to establish measures to prevent recurrence and protect victims, and have begun discussions to ensure that such incidents, which should never happen, do not occur again in society."

President Yoo added, "This issue ultimately concerns Seoul National University as an educational institution," and said, "We will strive to strengthen education on character, social responsibility, publicness, and citizenship in a broad sense."

Immediately after the incident became known, Seoul National University formed a digital sex crime prevention TF led by the vice president to devise countermeasures. The TF includes professors, experts, and students.

The TF held its first meeting the day before and decided to create a reporting channel to provide legal and psychological support to victims of sex crimes. Additionally, they requested opinions on effective digital sex crime prevention education methods for students.

Considering that graduation photos were used in the synthesized obscene images, the university plans to consult with the graduation album production company to restrict access to other students' photos.

Kim Sung-kyu, Vice President for Education at Seoul National University, said, "(Digital sex crimes) are not only a problem at Seoul National University but can occur anywhere nationwide," adding, "We will create exemplary manuals and establish systems that can be utilized elsewhere as well."