"Possible Disclosure of Personal Information" vs "Do You Look Like a Frog?"... Controversy Over 'Jo Guk n-Banbang Gift'

Jokook "'n Beonbang Case' Suspect Identity Disclosure Legally Possible"

Jo Joo-bin (25), who was arrested on charges of threatening women to film sexual exploitation materials and distributing them on the mobile messenger Telegram, is seen leaving the courtroom after the warrant hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Amid public outrage over the 'Nth Room' case, where minors and women were threatened to produce and sell sexual exploitation materials, political circles have pointed out that revealing the identities of suspects is difficult due to former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. As the controversy spread, former Minister Cho directly refuted this, claiming that identity disclosure is possible.

Lee Jun-seok, Future United Party Supreme Council Member, posted on his Facebook on the 22nd, saying, "I sympathize with the public outrage against the suspects in the Telegram 'Nth Room' case," and added, "There are stages involving the police, prosecution, and courts for standing at the photo line. I don't know which stage the recent Blue House petition related to the 'Nth Room' case specifies, but I also want to advocate for putting the suspects at the photo line."

Lee further stated, "Let's all think about who the minister was that insisted on establishing human rights protection investigation rules, whose investigation was pressured leading to the abolition of the photo line, whose family actually benefited from the abolition of the photo line, and which administration disguised this as part of investigative agency reform."

He emphasized, "This happened in October 2019. Let's vote properly this time to put the 'Nth Room' suspects and the so-called 'Doctor' at the photo line."

Jeong Won-seok, full-time spokesperson for the same party's election committee, also released a statement on the 23rd, saying, "The United Party is outraged by the Nth Room case and strongly demands severe punishment for the 'Doctor' and 'GodGod,' who violated the human rights of the victims," but added, "However, it will be difficult to disclose the identities of the Nth Room suspects and put them at the photo line even in the Blue House petition."

Spokesperson Jeong pointed out, "The primary beneficiary of the photo line ban is former Minister Cho Kuk," and criticized, "If the perpetrators who brutally trampled on the basic rights of innocent women rely on the distorted privileges created by Cho and are forgotten, the second and third Nth Room perpetrators will receive eternal impunity." He urged, "Reconsider the photo line ban, which is no different from a 'Cho Kuk-originated Nth Room gift,' in its entirety."

In response to such criticism, former Minister Cho posted on Facebook in the afternoon, stating, "There are two legal bases for disclosing suspects' faces and other personal information," and added, "The Nth Room case allows (disclosure of suspects' identities) under Article 25, Paragraph 1 of the Special Act on Sexual Violence."

The provision of the Special Act on Sexual Violence mentioned by former Minister Cho stipulates that "Prosecutors and judicial police officers may disclose information about the suspect's identity, such as face, name, and age, when there is sufficient evidence to believe the suspect committed a sexual violence crime, and it is necessary solely for public interest, such as guaranteeing the public's right to know, preventing recidivism, and crime prevention."

In response, Supreme Council Member Lee rebutted former Minister Cho's claim again on his Facebook. He pointed out Cho's answer, saying, "When I mentioned the photo line (public summons), he answered with identity disclosure."

He continued, "I'm talking about putting them at the photo line, not identity disclosure. That's what the Blue House petition title says," and added, "It seems everyone is seen as crayfish-fish-frog."

The police arrested and detained Cho Mo, a man in his 20s who operated the 'Doctor's Room,' similar to the 'Nth Room,' on the 16th. Cho is accused of threatening minors and women to produce sexual exploitation materials and distributing them for money in secret Telegram chat rooms.

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board

The Blue House petition demanding severe punishment for Cho had 2,495,636 supporters as of 7 a.m. today (24th). The petitioner stated, "Put the perpetrator who caused shame to others and drove young students into hell at the photo line. Do not let him cover his face with a hat or mask."

They added, "There are 250,000 simultaneous viewers. He threatened victims to perform sexual acts in front of their families," and appealed, "Sound the alarm against the distorted sexual perceptions of Korean men."

Meanwhile, the police will hold a personal information disclosure review committee today to decide whether to disclose Cho's real name, face, age, and other personal information. The disclosure decision will be made by a review committee composed of three internal police members and four external members. If Cho's identity is disclosed, it will be the first case for a sexual violence crime.

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