Request for Volunteer Activity Support... Allegations of Cohabitation with a Minor
Pregnancy and Childbirth at Age 14... "Clear Exploitation and Abuse"
A Korean man who operated a YouTube channel in the Philippines has been arrested on charges of child abuse and human trafficking.
According to Philippine media outlets such as GMA and the National Coordinating Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) on July 5, Korean national A was arrested last month in Cagayan de Oro City, Northern Mindanao, Philippines, on charges of child abuse and exploitation, violation of the Anti-Discrimination Act, and violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
A had promoted volunteer activities on YouTube, claiming to provide study rooms for underprivileged children in the Philippines and soliciting donations from Korean viewers. He introduced the study rooms as places "where children can attend school and learn to read and write," and stated that new study rooms were established with the donations received. In some videos, he directly disclosed that the amount of donations exceeded 10 million won.
News of the arrest of Korean YouTuber A posted on the social media (SNS) of the Philippines National Coordinating Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM) [Image source=Captured from NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM Facebook]
However, local investigators became suspicious because minors repeatedly appeared in the content broadcast on YouTube. Allegations also emerged that A had been cohabiting with a minor for an extended period, which resulted in childbirth, prompting authorities to launch an investigation.
The investigation revealed that A, the operator of the channel, had been living with a 14-year-old Filipino girl. The girl recently gave birth, and A was confirmed to be the biological father. Philippine authorities stated, "This case constitutes clear exploitation and abuse of a minor."
A is currently being held and investigated at Maharlika Detention Center in Cagayan de Oro City.
Local police stated, "The Cybercrime Investigation Unit in the Mindanao region is continuously investigating crimes against children occurring on online platforms," and urged the public to "immediately report any suspected cases of child abuse."
In 2022, the Philippines raised the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 in order to strengthen child protection.
According to statistics on overseas incidents and crimes involving Korean nationals released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2024, a total of 3,255 Koreans committed crimes abroad last year. Of these, 2,519 cases, or 77.4% of the total, occurred in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines.
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