'Gyeongbokgung Graffiti Vandalism' Gang Goes to Trial... Main Perpetrator of 'Illegal Pornographic Website' Operation Indicted and Detained

In December of last year, Kang (30), who instructed teenage students to vandalize the walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace and other locations to increase visitors to an illegal video-sharing site, was brought to trial while in custody. Three teenagers who actually carried out the graffiti and assisted in operating the site under Kang's orders were also indicted without detention.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 19th, the 6th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jo Young-hee) formally charged Kang with violations including the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, damage to public property, copyright infringement, violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (distribution of obscene materials), and violation of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (filming and distribution using cameras, etc.) while in custody.

The three teenagers involved in the graffiti?high school students Lim (17), Kim (16), and Jo (19)?were indicted without detention. Lim and Kim are charged with directly participating in the graffiti, while Jo is accused of assisting Kang's illegal site operation by paying operating expenses through his own account.

According to the prosecution, investigations revealed that Kang operated two illegal video-sharing sites featuring movies and dramas, as well as two obscene material-sharing sites including child and adolescent sexual exploitation content, over approximately five months.

A prosecution official stated, "This case caused public outrage by damaging Gyeongbokgung Palace, an important national heritage site, to promote illegal video sites and generate advertising revenue. We will make every effort to maintain the prosecution to ensure that a severe sentence commensurate with the crimes is imposed." The official added, "We will support the Cultural Heritage Administration to facilitate the smooth claim of restoration costs amounting to 131 million won, and will thoroughly track the illegal advertising profits earned by Kang and his associates, which amount to hundreds of millions of won, to ensure that all criminal proceeds are fully recovered."