Prosecutors Conduct Second Summons Interrogation of Jo Joo-bin... Proceeding Without Legal Counsel

Prosecution Summons 'Baksa Bang' Jo Joo-bin for Second Day
Investigation Begins Alone Without Lawyer...Focus on Accomplice Relations
Prosecution Plans Up to 20 Days of Supplementary Investigation...Weekend Summons Expected

Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who threatened dozens of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram and forced them to film obscene materials which he then distributed, is coming out of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the morning of the 25th to be sent to the prosecution. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] On the 27th, the prosecution continued its second day of investigation by summoning Jo Joo-bin (24). Jo is accused of producing sexually exploitative materials of women, including minors, and distributing them via the messenger app Telegram.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Yoo Hyun-jung) summoned Jo in the morning as a suspect to verify the overall charges related to operating the Telegram 'Baksa Bang' (Doctor's Room). They are expected to intensively investigate the criminal charges of accomplices and possible collusion with other accomplices. They are also examining whether the charges of 'organizing a criminal group' can be applied to Jo and his accomplices who operated 'Baksa Bang.'

The prosecution plans to conduct supplementary investigations on Jo for up to 20 days, including one extension of detention, before bringing him to trial.

Like the previous day, the investigation began without the participation of a defense attorney. The law firm Oh Hyun, which represented Jo during the police investigation phase, submitted a letter of withdrawal on the 25th and gave up defending Jo. Legal circles predict that it will be difficult for Jo to appoint a private defense attorney. If Jo continues to have difficulties appointing a private defense attorney, a public defender may be assigned to proceed with the trial.

Telegram Doctor's Room operator Jo Joo-bin is speaking at the photo line set up in front of Jongno Police Station in Seoul on the 25th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Since the police forwarded the case to the prosecution with 12 charges and the investigation records amount to 38 volumes, including separate books, totaling about 12,000 pages, a thorough investigation by the prosecution is expected. The prosecution is also expected to summon Jo once more for supplementary questioning over the weekend. Currently, Jo is reported to be in good health and has no major issues with his detention life.

Jo is accused of luring victims with part-time job offers, obtaining nude photos showing their faces, then threatening them to produce sexually exploitative materials and distributing them in Baksa Bang. On the 25th, the police applied charges including violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (production of child pornography), violation of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (filming using cameras, etc.), forcible molestation, threats, coercion, fraud, and violation of the Personal Information Protection Act, and transferred Jo to the prosecution. The police have identified 74 victims related to this case so far, 16 of whom are minors. On the day of transfer, the prosecution formed a 'Digital Sex Crime Special Investigation Task Force (TF)' and announced that it will strictly handle various digital sex crime cases, including Jo's case.

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