Police Launch 'Digital Sexual Crime Special Investigation Headquarters'... Intensive Crackdown Until Year-End

This Morning's Plaque Ceremony, Director Min Gap-ryong of the National Police Agency Cyber Safety Bureau: "We Will Eradicate Digital Sex Crimes"

At the Digital Sex Crime Special Investigation Headquarters plaque unveiling ceremony held on the 25th at the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency North Building, Police Commissioner Min Gap-ryong and other attendees unveiled the plaque. From the left, Jo Joo-eun, Director of Women's Safety Planning, Nam Gu-jun, Director of Cyber Safety Bureau, Commissioner Min, and Choi Seung-ryeol, Investigation Review Officer.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Following the arrest of the operator of the 'Telegram Doctor's Room,' which sparked nationwide outrage, the police have launched a special investigation unit to respond more strongly to digital sex crimes.

On the morning of the 25th, the National Police Agency held a plaque ceremony for the 'Digital Sex Crime Special Investigation Unit' at the police headquarters in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and officially began its operation.

At the plaque ceremony, Police Commissioner Min Gap-ryong stated, "There is a deep concern about digital sex crimes and a very strong demand for severe punishment," adding, "We have established the special investigation unit to systematically respond to the cruel and shocking crimes that completely destroy the lives of children, adolescents, and women." He continued, "We will thoroughly investigate all those involved, including the producers and distributors of sexual exploitation materials, as well as accomplices and abettors, by deploying all available resources," emphasizing, "We will take firm measures, including considering the disclosure of personal information."

Furthermore, Commissioner Min said, "We will do our utmost to protect victims by understanding the pain and desperate feelings experienced by women and will take meticulous measures to prevent secondary damage such as the leakage of victim videos," promising, "As the Police Commissioner, I feel a heavy responsibility and vow to use all means to eradicate digital sex crimes and pursue and arrest offenders to the very end."

The special investigation unit is scheduled to operate until December 31 of this year. The head of the Cyber Safety Bureau of the National Police Agency will serve as the unit chief, with the Investigation Review Officer as the investigation team leader and the Women's Safety Planning Officer as the victim protection team leader, ensuring that both digital sex crime investigations and victim protection are carried out simultaneously.

Police Chief Min Gap-ryong is speaking at the Digital Sex Crime Special Investigation Headquarters plaque ceremony held on the 25th at the Police Agency North Building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Under the unit chief, departments responsible for investigation execution, investigation guidance and support, international cooperation, digital forensics, victim protection, and investigator gender sensitivity education will be established. An investigation situation room, led by the head of the Cyber Investigation Division of the National Police Agency, will operate to specifically guide and coordinate major cases and develop and provide training on tracking techniques. Cooperation with women's organizations and related agencies, as well as international cooperation, will be further strengthened.

Along with the launch of the special investigation unit, the police plan to extend the intensive crackdown on the 'four major cyber sexual violence distribution networks,' initially scheduled until the end of June, through the end of the year, and will strictly investigate all illegal actors including operators, distributors, and abettors. The four major distribution networks collectively refer to SNS platforms such as Telegram, the dark web, pornographic sites, and webhards.

As of today, the police have arrested 126 individuals, including Telegram room operators, and detained 19. This includes Jo Joo-bin (24, detained), the operator of the 'Doctor's Room,' as well as 'Watchman,' the operator of the 'Nth Room.' The initial operator of the Nth Room, known as 'GodGod,' is currently being tracked.

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