Crime for Promoting Illegal Websites
Estimated Operating Revenue of 250 Million Won
Fleeing with Lover in Yeosu
Escaped After Removing Handcuffs Due to Sentence Concerns
Kang Mo (30), who instructed teenagers to graffiti the walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace at the end of last year, has been handed over to the prosecution. It was confirmed that Kang solicited accomplices in a Telegram chat room and ordered the graffiti to promote the illegal video-sharing site he operated.
Kang Mo (30), who was made to graffiti on the wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 25th for a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review). [Image source=Yonhap News]
The Cyber Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 31st that Kang was sent to the prosecution under custody on charges including violation of the Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Im Mo (17) and Kim Mo (17), who graffitied the Gyeongbokgung Palace walls under Kang’s orders, as well as D, who assisted in operating Kang’s illegal site, were sent to the prosecution without detention. Investigations are ongoing for three suspects who aided Kang’s illegal video-sharing site operation and another accomplice, H.
Kang is accused of instructing Im on December 16 last year via Telegram to graffiti a 30-meter-long phrase saying "Free Movies WillOO TV.com feat Nunu" on the walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Palace Museum, and the east gate wall of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
According to the police, Kang contacted Im to advertise the illegal video-sharing site he operated and ordered the crime in exchange for 5 million won. The police also found evidence that Kang monitored Im while in a vehicle and received photos of the cultural heritage damage, giving detailed instructions. Kang changed his account names to "Team Leader Lee" and "Manager Kim" while issuing orders.
Police investigations revealed that before the Gyeongbokgung Palace wall graffiti, Kang also instructed minor H on the 14th of the same month to graffiti Sungnyemun Gate and the statue of King Sejong at Gwanghwamun. However, H abandoned the graffiti midway, citing heavy police presence at the scene, resulting in the failure of the crime.
Mr. Kang searched for accomplices through Telegram and then instructed them to vandalize graffiti. [Image source=Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]
Kang operated a total of eight domains for the illegal video-sharing site, distributing 2,368 copyrighted works including movies, 3 child and youth sexual exploitation materials, and 930 obscene materials since October last year. Kang used front accounts such as those of payment agents like D to pay server operating costs and converted profits into virtual assets to evade law enforcement tracking. He had no personal acquaintance with his accomplices, and they conspired through Telegram. The criminal proceeds Kang earned through the illegal video-sharing site are estimated at 250 million won.
As the police investigation tightened, Kang submitted false Telegram chat logs to confuse the investigation. In February, he spread false rumors through accomplice E that Kang had been urgently arrested in a Telegram chat room. To evade police pursuit, he moved to a lodging facility in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, in May and began a fugitive life with his partner. The police arrested Kang, who was hiding in Yeosu, on the 22nd.
However, on the 28th, while being questioned by the police, Kang requested to smoke a cigarette around 1:50 p.m., slipped one arm out of his handcuffs, climbed over a fence, and escaped. The police mobilized all personnel for a search and arrested Kang around 3:40 p.m. hiding in a wardrobe on the second floor of a nearby church building. It was confirmed that Kang had also slipped his right arm out of the handcuffs at the time of arrest. The police explained that Kang chose to escape fearing a heavy sentence.
The police plan to continue investigating whether there are additional accomplices while tracking Kang’s criminal proceeds. A police official stated, "National cultural heritage is difficult to restore once damaged and requires enormous costs, so we will respond strictly to crimes damaging cultural heritage. We will also do our best to eradicate cyber sexual violence crimes and copyright infringement offenders."
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