Ministry of Justice: "Strong Punishment for n-Banbang Perpetrators... Considering Application of Organized Crime Group Charges"

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Ministry of Justice has expressed a strong determination to severely punish those involved in the illegal sexual exploitation material sharing case that sparked nationwide outrage. The Ministry of Justice announced that it will consider requesting the maximum statutory penalty depending on the degree of involvement in the crime and plans to apply charges such as 'organizing a criminal organization' even to simple participants. Along with measures to protect and support the victims, a government-wide task force will also be formed to prevent recurrence.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Justice stated in a press release, "Digital sex crimes are serious offenses that destroy a person's dignity and life, yet we have not fulfilled our active responsibility to eradicate them," adding, "We deeply regret that our lukewarm criminal punishments and responses failed to embrace the victims' cries and pain." This can be seen as a de facto public apology regarding the recent controversial Nth Room case and other illegal sexual exploitation material sharing incidents.

It continued, "The Ministry of Justice reflects on the fact that this incident is a disaster caused by the lukewarm response to digital sex crimes so far," and emphasized, "We will pursue all perpetrators involved in these cruel crimes that destroy human lives to the end and take all measures, including international criminal judicial cooperation, to ensure strict punishment."

Furthermore, it added, "We will make every possible effort to protect and support victims, eliminate blind spots in punishment, and promote legal amendments to raise statutory penalties for serious crimes, doing our utmost to eradicate digital sex crimes."

The Ministry of Justice has instructed the prosecution to strongly punish all participants in this case according to their responsibility. Suspects involved in the production and distribution of illegal sexual exploitation videos such as those in the Nth Room case will be charged under the Criminal Act for organizing a criminal organization, and all criminal proceeds earned by them will be confiscated.

Even Telegram chatroom members who were not directly involved in producing or distributing videos will be investigated as accomplices based on their degree of participation, instigation, or assistance. For simple users who do not qualify as accomplices, relevant laws such as possession of child and youth pornography will be actively applied to ensure that all participants receive punishment commensurate with their responsibility.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In cases where servers and key evidence related to digital sex crimes are located overseas, the Ministry plans to closely cooperate with relevant countries based on international criminal judicial cooperation treaties and networks such as the 'International Criminal Judicial Cooperation Treaty' and the 'G7 24/7 Network' established with major countries worldwide including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan.

The Ministry of Justice explained that it will thoroughly track and recover criminal proceeds obtained through digital payment methods such as cryptocurrencies and will strictly respond to money laundering activities related to illegal profits.

Additionally, the Ministry announced plans to detect and delete illegal recordings using the prosecution's recently developed 'AI (Artificial Intelligence)-based Illegal Filming Distribution Detection and Victim Support System.' It will also promote the formation of a government-wide task force to seek fundamental and comprehensive solutions to digital sex crimes.

Moreover, the Ministry of Justice stated that it will focus on victim protection and support, including providing public defenders for victims and assisting in the deletion of illegal recordings.

A Ministry of Justice official said, "Through these multifaceted responses, we plan to uncover the full details of this case that caused nationwide outrage and ensure strict punishment," adding, "We will strive to ensure that the entire system related to digital sex crimes, such as sexual exploitation via SNS, aligns with the public's common sense of justice and keeps pace with advancing technology and social changes."

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