'Seoul National University Nth Room' Main Perpetrator's Sentence Reduced to 9 Years on Appeal... "Settlement with Victims Considered"

Accomplice Kang Also Has Sentence Reduced from Four Years to Three Years and Six Months
Court States "Nature of Crime is Heinous"

The main perpetrator in the so-called "Seoul National University Nth Room" case, in which SNU graduates created and distributed obscene materials by synthesizing the faces of female alumni, has received a reduced sentence in the appeals trial.

On April 18, the 8th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Kim Sungsoo, Kim Yoonjong, and Lee Junhyun) sentenced Park (41), the main perpetrator who was indicted and detained on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (editing and distributing fake videos, etc.), to nine years in prison. Previously, the first trial had sentenced him to ten years in prison.

Kang (32), an accomplice who had been sentenced to four years in prison in the first trial, also had his sentence reduced to three years and six months. The court also ordered both individuals to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and imposed a five-year employment restriction at institutions related to children and adolescents.

The court stated, "The defendants are guilty of creating photos and videos using acquaintances' facial photos in a manner that causes sexual humiliation. Park, in particular, sent these photos to the victims to ridicule them, making his actions highly blameworthy." However, the court explained that Park's sentence was reduced in consideration of the fact that he had reached settlements with some of the victims.

The SNU deepfake case involved SNU graduates producing and distributing obscene materials by synthesizing the photos of dozens of female alumni and others with pornographic content from July 2021 to April last year. Investigations revealed that approximately 100 obscene materials were produced and about 1,700 were distributed, with 61 confirmed victims, including 12 SNU alumni.

It was found that Park operated more than 20 Telegram group chat rooms, selectively inviting people by providing chat room links and distributing obscene materials. Among the victims were minors, leading to additional charges of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth (production and distribution of sexually exploitative materials).

Another accomplice, also surnamed Park (30), was sentenced to four years and six months in prison in the second trial last month. His sentence was reduced from five years in the first trial, taking into account that he had reached settlements with six victims and made a deposit with the court.