First Trial for the Leader of the 'Cyber Sexual Violence Crime Group'
Prosecution: "Very High Risk of Sexual Crime Recidivism"
Kim Nokwan's Defense Team Does Not State Position on Charges
The prosecution has requested the attachment of an electronic location tracking device and probation orders for Kim Nokwan, who is accused of organizing a cyber sexual violence crime group under the name 'Jagyeongdan' via Telegram and sexually exploiting 234 men and women, including minors.
Mugshot of Kim Nokwan (33), the ringleader of the 'Ja-gyeong-dan'. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Photo by Yonhap News.
On the 10th, the 26th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-kyung) held the first trial for Kim, who was indicted in custody on charges including organizing and participating in a criminal organization, rape, violation of the Youth Protection Act, and extortion. The prosecution stated, "Considering the nature of the crimes, there is a very high likelihood that the defendant will target unspecified victims, including children and adolescents, for sexual crimes again in the future," and explained, "It is necessary to attach an electronic location tracking device and to place him under probation after the completion of his sentence."
Wearing a khaki prison uniform, Kim appeared with a blank expression, glanced once at the audience seats upon entering, and then stared straight ahead for about an hour from the prosecution's statement of charges until his departure. On this day, Kim's defense team said they would present their position on the charges at the next hearing.
According to the prosecution, since August 2020, Kim, the ringleader, organized the cyber sexual violence crime group Jagyeongdan, which caused the largest damage in the country, by assigning himself the title of 'pastor' and giving titles such as 'evangelist' and 'preliminary evangelist' to his members. He is accused of producing and distributing sexually exploitative materials, illegal recordings, and fabricated videos, and threatening to distribute them. He also allegedly raped minors using sadistic and perverted methods while filming the acts, committing additional crimes. It was also confirmed that he sent illegal recordings of victims to their fathers, posted them on the 'Parkje Channel,' and distributed access addresses to acquaintances.
Kim Nokwan is also investigated to have threatened nine child and adolescent victims by saying he would distribute nude photos if they did not have sexual relations with men he arranged (so-called 'off-line men'), then impersonated these men himself and raped them. It was also revealed that he raped one adult victim twice using the same method. Additionally, he filmed his rapes 362 times, possessed 758 related videos, and threatened two victims by threatening to reveal their personal information, extorting a total of 3.6 million won.
The next trial date for Kim is scheduled for the 31st at 2 p.m.
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