Telegram 'Sex Exploitation Material Exchange Room' Operator in 30s Arrested and Sent to Prosecution

Allegations of Violating the Juvenile Sexual Protection Act
Possession of 9,789 Sexual Exploitation Materials and 22 Illegal Filming Items

The police arrested and sent to prosecution a man in his 30s who operated a 'sexual exploitation material exchange room' on Telegram, possessing over 9,700 child and youth sexual exploitation materials and illegal recordings.

The Cyber Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 12th that they had arrested and sent to prosecution Mr. A, a man in his 30s, on charges of violating the Youth Protection Act.

Mr. A is accused of producing 128 fake videos by synthesizing the faces of 24 victims, including coworkers and acquaintances, onto the bodies of nude women from around December last year until July 22. It was confirmed that one of the victims was a minor.

Mr. A operated a 'sexual exploitation material exchange room,' distributing three fake videos he produced and 151 child and youth sexual exploitation materials for the purpose of exchanging them with participants in the exchange room. He was found to possess a total of 9,789 sexual exploitation materials and 22 illegal recordings. It is known that about 100 participants were involved in the exchange room.

He targeted acquaintances with whom he was familiar, committing the crimes to satisfy his sexual desires. The synthesis was done using a 'Telegram Artificial Intelligence (AI) synthesis bot.'

During the police investigation, Mr. A stated, "I opened and operated the exchange room to collect more sexual exploitation materials." The police have secured evidence related to the exchange room operated by Mr. A and are tracking the relevant Telegram account.

A police official said, "We will strictly respond not only to deepfakes but also to any acts of editing, synthesizing, or processing a person's face or body in any form that causes sexual shame." They added, "Victims of similar harm should understand that it is not their fault and immediately report to investigative agencies to receive help."