Police Investigate Over 30 Paid Members of ‘Baksa Bang’... Considering Public Disclosure of ‘Buddha’ Identity

On the 25th, as the vehicle carrying Cho Ju-bin (25), the operator of the 'Doctor's Room' who is accused of producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials of women including minors on the internet messenger Telegram, left the Jongno Police Station in Seoul and headed to the prosecution detention center, citizens held a picket protest demanding severe punishment for Cho Ju-bin. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The police are investigating about 30 paid members who paid to join the Telegram 'Baksa Bang' (Doctor's Room). The police also plan to hold a meeting soon to decide whether to disclose the identity of 'Buddha' Kang Mo (18), who participated in the crimes of Jo Joo-bin (24, in custody) in this chatroom.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said at a press briefing on the 13th, "We have booked about 30 people in connection with the investigation of paid members of (Baksa Bang)," and added, "We will continue the investigation as their identities are confirmed."

Earlier, the police announced that they had identified and booked 10 paid members based on Jo's cryptocurrency wallet information and other data. With about 20 more people newly booked this time, the total number of identified paid members has increased to about 30. Most of the paid members identified by the police are men in their 20s to 30s, and some minors are reportedly included among them.

The police plan to continue investigating the newly booked paid members along with the previously booked 10 or so.

The police also plan to hold a Personal Information Disclosure Review Committee as early as this week to decide whether to disclose the identity of 'Buddha' Kang, who assisted Jo's crimes in 'Baksa Bang.'

A police official said, "After a thorough legal review, we concluded that (Kang) is subject to the identity disclosure committee," adding, "A warrant has been issued for the subject, and considering various aspects, the criminal facts have been clearly proven."

Under the current 'Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes,' if the crime method is cruel and serious damage has occurred, or if it is necessary for public interest such as guaranteeing the public's right to know, the suspect's identity can be disclosed. The criminal facts against the suspect must also be sufficiently proven. However, there is an exception if the subject is a juvenile.

However, the related law, the 'Youth Protection Act,' defines youth as under 19 years old but includes a proviso that "a person who has reached January 1 of the year they turn 19 is excluded." Kang is known to have been born in 2001.

Regarding this, the police explained, "The committee will have an in-depth discussion and make a decision before determining whether to disclose the identity."

Kang used the nickname 'Buddha' in the Telegram 'Baksa Bang' and is suspected of participating in Jo's crimes by recruiting chatroom participants and managing criminal proceeds such as entrance fees. Kang reportedly received cryptocurrency from paid members as entrance fees, converted it into cash, and delivered it to Jo.

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