Cheong: "Multilateral International Cooperation Underway" for 'n번방' Investigation Petition

Forming a Digital Sex Crime Investigation Task Force for Crackdown... Strengthening International Criminal Cooperation and Collaboration with Overseas Private Organizations and Groups

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] The Blue House announced that it will "promote multifaceted international cooperation" in response to a national petition urging international joint investigations into the so-called 'n-bunbang' case.

This case concerns a petition for international joint investigations aimed at fundamentally resolving the Telegram-based sexual exploitation crimes known as n-bunbang. The petition has garnered 219,705 supporters over a month since February 2.

Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, explained, "The petitioner pointed out that as the webhard cartel collapsed and punishments for sharing sexual exploitation materials through group chat rooms were enforced, the sharing of sexual exploitation materials via 'Telegram,' such as in the n-bunbang case, emerged as a new problem." He added, "Just as the police have successfully cracked down on 'Soranet,' 'dark web child sexual exploitation sites,' overseas pornographic sites, and the webhard cartel, they requested a fundamental resolution of this issue through active international joint investigations."

National Police Chief Min Gap-ryong is attending the "21st National Assembly Election, Election Offense Crackdown Measures Meeting" held at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Commissioner Min stated, "We are promoting multifaceted international cooperation. This includes cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies such as Interpol, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as international criminal justice cooperation through diplomatic channels. We will also strengthen collaboration with overseas private organizations and institutions." He pledged, "Based on past successful investigations, we will expand direct cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies regarding Telegram."

The National Police Agency plans to lead a joint crackdown operation at the Interpol level as the sole funding country for Interpol's child sexual exploitation response project this year. They intend to actively utilize domestic systems developed by the police, such as the illegal filming tracking system, and international systems like the Interpol child sexual exploitation database.

Commissioner Min emphasized, "The police deeply recognize the severity and risks of cyber sexual violence and have been actively conducting crackdowns and investigations. In 2016, through joint investigations with Dutch authorities, we shut down the server of 'Soranet,' which had become a serious social problem at the time."

He added, "Since 2019, we have strictly responded to cyber sexual violence using Telegram, arresting a total of 67 individuals, including 17 Telegram room operators and accomplices, and 50 offenders involved in the distribution and possession of child sexual exploitation materials."

However, Commissioner Min acknowledged, "We are well aware that cyber sexual violence crimes continue to persist." He said, "Since February 10, we have been conducting focused crackdowns on major cyber sexual violence distribution channels, including SNS, the dark web, pornographic sites, and webhard services, throughout the first half of the year."

Commissioner Min conveyed that the police will concentrate investigative capabilities by mobilizing specialized investigators from cyber sexual violence task forces established in the National Police Agency and local police agencies nationwide, as well as frontline cyber investigation personnel, until issues such as Telegram-based cyber sexual exploitation are fundamentally resolved.

He vowed, "We will ensure that the distribution of sexual exploitation materials online, including on Telegram, cannot be exploited for profit. We will relentlessly track and arrest criminals involved in advanced crimes that abuse the latest payment methods such as virtual currencies and online cultural gift certificates." Additionally, Commissioner Min stated, "We will strive to prevent secondary damage during investigations and lead victim protection activities in cooperation with related agencies, dedicating efforts to realizing restorative justice."

Meanwhile, petitions addressing digital sex crimes have also been submitted to the National Assembly's public consent petitions, and legislative discussions are expected to proceed according to relevant legislative procedures.

Commissioner Min concluded, "Digital sex crimes cause victims profound suffering due to the continuous spread of photos and videos and trauma. The police classify cyber sexual violence, including the distribution of sexual exploitation materials on Telegram, as 'serious criminal acts' and promise to pursue and arrest cyber sexual violence offenders to the fullest extent using all available means."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.