'Seoul National University N-bunbang' Accomplice in 20s Gets Reduced Sentence in 2nd Trial... 4 Years 6 Months Imprisonment

Photos of Female Alumni Synthesized into Nude Images and Distributed
Second Trial Considers "Settlement with Victims"... First Trial Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

A man in his 20s, who was indicted as an accomplice in the so-called 'Seoul National University Nth Room' case, where SNU graduates created and distributed obscene materials by synthesizing the faces of female alumni, received a reduced sentence in the second trial.

On the 20th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 1-2 (Presiding Judges An Heegil, Jo Jeongrae, Jin Hyeonji) sentenced Park (29), who was tried on charges of editing and distributing false videos under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, to 4 years and 6 months in prison in the appellate trial. The court also ordered him to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs, a 5-year ban on public disclosure and notification through information and communication networks, and a 5-year employment restriction at facilities related to children, adolescents, and persons with disabilities. In the first trial, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

The court pointed out, "The mental shock suffered by the victims is very severe, and they have to live in anxiety fearing the distribution of photos or videos, so it takes a very long time to recover from the actual damage." However, the court explained that the sentence was reduced considering that Park reached agreements with six victims and made deposits in escrow.

The Seoul National University deepfake case involves SNU graduates who, from July 2021 to April last year, produced and distributed obscene materials by synthesizing photos of dozens of female alumni and others.

Park was indicted in May last year on charges of habitually producing over 400 false videos and distributing over 1,700 from July 2020 to April last year. He was investigated to have contacted the main perpetrator, Park (41), an SNU alumnus, via online messenger and together created and distributed obscene materials targeting dozens of women.

Previously, the main perpetrator Park and accomplice Kang (32) were sentenced to 10 years and 4 years in prison respectively in the first trial last year, and their appeals are currently underway. Han (31), who was indicted as an accomplice with them, was acquitted in the first trial in February, citing "lack of evidence."