Jo Joo-bin Has Been Tried... But Police Continue to Chase 'Geunom'

Originator of Nth Room 'GodGod'
Jo Joo-bin's Accomplice 'Samagwi'
Police Make All-Out Effort to Arrest Key Figures

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Seungyun Song and Jeongyun Lee] Jo Joo-bin (24, in custody), known as the 'Doctor,' who produced and distributed sexually exploitative obscene materials on Telegram, was formally charged on the 13th, accelerating police investigations into the entire 'Nth Room' case, including the 'Doctor's Room' incident. The police are focusing all efforts on tracking down the remaining key figures, but since this case occurred on Telegram, a highly secure messenger, tracing them is expected to be challenging.

The biggest hurdle in the current investigation appears to be tracking down GodGod, the operator of the Nth Room who is considered the originator of this case. The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency, in charge of investigating GodGod, has identified the IP he used and is making every effort to apprehend him. On the 6th, Police Commissioner Min Gap-ryong stated at a press conference that they are "approaching the GodGod investigation in a very meaningful way." However, unlike Jo, who left transaction records on virtual currency exchanges, GodGod conducted transactions using cultural gift certificates, which are difficult to trace buyers, and has been missing for over seven months, making tracking difficult.

Sama-gwi, known as one of the administrators of the Doctor's Room alongside Jo, has not been apprehended either. Sama-gwi is one of the three core accomplices of Jo, along with 'Boo-tta' Kang Mo (18), who is already in custody, and Army Private 'Igiya' Lee Mo (20). His capture is expected to reveal the structure of the Doctor's Room administrators and determine whether charges of organizing a criminal group will be applied.

'Chester,' who operated the 'Wanjang Room,' a Telegram chatroom for sharing sexually exploitative materials and traded obscene content, is also evading police pursuit. Chester is considered as central to the distribution of obscene materials as GodGod and Jo. If he is caught, additional crimes involving obscene materials on Telegram may be uncovered. It is also known that Jo learned his methods by participating in Chester's Wanjang Room before creating the Doctor's Room. Although the police have not identified Chester's exact identity, they have secured his IP and are conducting investigations.

Cooperation from Telegram headquarters is essential to confirm their identities, but Telegram is reportedly not responding to cooperation requests from Korean police. Ultimately, the police must continue their pursuit by gathering clues scattered inside and outside Telegram.

The police are also conducting supplementary investigations into Boo-tta, who is already in custody. After further inquiries into his conspiracy with Jo, they plan to transfer the case to the prosecution. Additionally, they have secured the nicknames of about 15,000 people who paid to enter Telegram obscene material chatrooms and have begun forced investigations by booking those whose criminal facts have been revealed.

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said at a press conference that "about 30 people have been booked in relation to the paid membership investigation of the Doctor's Room," and added, "We will continue investigations as identities are confirmed."

Earlier, the police announced that based on Jo's cryptocurrency wallet information, they identified and booked 10 paid members. With about 20 more recently booked, the total number of identified paid members has increased to around 30. Most of the paid members identified by the police are men in their 20s to 30s, with some minors reportedly included. The police plan to continue investigations on both the previously booked 10 and the newly booked paid members.

Meanwhile, the police are also investigating group chatrooms on Telegram, such as 'Juhonggeulssi' (The Scarlet Letter), which publicly disclose the identities of sexual exploitation perpetrators.

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