Another Incident in the Depression Gallery... Three Men in Their 20s Arrested for Targeting Female Students

Three Men in Their 20s Approached Teens via 'UuljeungGal'
2 of 4 Victims Were Middle School Students... Also Provided Zolpidem
Police Requested Gallery Closure, but Korea Communications Standards Commission Only Issued a 'Warning'

Three men in their 20s who provided sleeping pills to teenage girls they met through the online community DC Inside's 'Depression Gallery' and engaged in sexual relations with them have been detained. Among them, two were found to have committed sexual assault against the victims.

On the 30th, Yonhap News reported, "The Namdong Police Station in Incheon arrested three men in their 20s, including Mr. A, on charges of statutory rape of minors and sent them to the prosecution." Mr. A and others are accused of having sexual intercourse or similar sexual acts with four middle and high school students, including Ms. B, at officetels and multi-family houses in Incheon and Seoul from December last year to April this year.

Among the four victims, two are middle school students, making them subject to statutory rape laws for minors. According to the Criminal Act, sexual activity with minors under the age of 16 is punishable regardless of consent.

Two of the perpetrators also sexually assaulted two high school student victims and provided them with zolpidem, a controlled substance. The police added charges of rape and violations of the Narcotics Control Act against these perpetrators.

It was confirmed that Mr. A and the others approached the victims through the online community Depression Gallery. In August, a man in his 30s was also arrested and indicted on charges of purchasing sex from a teenage girl he met through this gallery and producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials. The police explained that "sexual crimes such as sexual exploitation targeting minors who are psychologically vulnerable and easily tempted are continuously occurring in connection with the Depression Gallery."

The police requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission (hereinafter KCSC) to shut down the gallery, but the KCSC only issued a 'warning' to the platform. A police official said, "We requested the closure to prevent further crimes occurring through the Depression Gallery, but only a warning was issued, which is regrettable," adding, "We hope that continuous monitoring will proceed beyond just the warning."