Hwang Kyo-ahn's 'Curiosity About n번방' Remark Draws Lee Jong-gul's Criticism as "Thoughts Encouraging Digital Sex Crimes"

On the afternoon of the 30th of last month, Lee Jong-gul, the Standing Co-Chairman of the Democratic Party's election campaign committee, is speaking at the launch ceremony of the Together Citizens' Party Election Countermeasures Committee held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Lee Jong-geol, Co-Chairman of the Democratic Citizens' Party, criticized Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, for his remark that "judgments may differ for people who entered the n-room out of curiosity," calling it "a serious misstatement."

On the day, Lee appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "Isn't it problematic to simply describe the actions of n-room subscribers as out of curiosity? The n-room requires a considerable amount of money, interest, and prior measures to gain access," he said.

He added, "The curiosity about the n-room that he mentioned is not merely about sexual satisfaction but a crime," and said, "The n-room was a cruel act of violence against women, and it actually encouraged the main perpetrators' crimes and fattened their pockets."

He continued, "The n-room is not something anyone can easily access; it requires active measures and intention, truly a 'journey to find the n-room' to reach this secret space," and said, "(Leader Hwang's) attitude of showing leniency by talking about curiosity regarding n-room subscribers shows a complete lack of understanding of the seriousness of digital sex crimes and is a dangerous thought that promotes digital sex crimes in the future. Therefore, these actions should be regarded not as curiosity but as criminal interest and dealt with strictly."

Leader Hwang, in response to a question about the n-room at a debate hosted by the Broadcast Journalists Club the previous day, said, "Judgments may differ for people who entered the room out of curiosity and then left," and added, "The representative of the n-room was punished and detained, but individual judgments are necessary for those involved."

As the controversy intensified, Leader Hwang clarified in a statement, "The part where I said 'individual judgments are necessary' was merely a general comment that various considerations are needed in sentencing from a legal perspective."

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