"Why Do We Need to Know He's a Model Student?"... 'Butta' Kang Hoon's Face Revealed, Controversy Over 'Criminal Narrative' Coverage

Some Media Report 'Butta' Kang Hoon's Past as a 'Model Student'
Women Express Frustration: "Not Helpful in Solving the Nth Room Case"
Gender Equality Committee: "Victim Protection Will Be Our Top Priority During Reporting"

Co-conspirator Kang Hoon, known as 'Boo Dda,' who assisted the operator Cho Ju-bin in running and managing the chat rooms of the Telegram 'Doctor's Room,' is being transferred to the prosecution on the morning of the 17th at Jongno Police Station in Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 17th, the identity of Kang Hoon (18), known by the Telegram nickname 'Butta', who assisted Jo Joo-bin (25, in custody) in the production and distribution of child sexual exploitation materials in the Telegram 'Doctor's Room', was revealed. However, some media outlets reported on 'Butta' as a model student during his school days and other past activities, sparking controversy over 'criminal narrative reporting.' Criminal narrative reporting refers to coverage centered on the perpetrator, detailing the life they led before committing the crime.

Such reporting has been criticized for failing to address the social structural issues behind the incident, reducing it to a form of gossip. Women have pointed out that it constitutes secondary victimization of the victims and, above all, does not help at all in resolving the horrific 'Nth Room' case. The Gender Equality Committee emphasized the need for reporting that raises awareness of the seriousness of digital sex crimes.

At 8 a.m. that day, Kang Hoon stood at the photo line without a mask before being transferred from the detention center at Jongno Police Station in Seoul to the prosecution, saying, "I'm sorry. I sincerely apologize and am sorry," before getting into the escort vehicle. He did not respond to questions such as "Do you admit the charges?" or "Do you think the identity disclosure is unfair?"

Kang Hoon is charged with recruiting and managing participants in the 'Doctor's Room' and delivering criminal proceeds to Jo Joo-bin (violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse, etc.).

It is reported that he acted as a kind of 'fund manager,' converting cryptocurrency paid by paid members as entrance fees into cash and delivering it to Jo Joo-bin.

Kang Hoon, known as 'BooTta,' a co-operator of the Telegram 'Doctor's Room' along with Jo Joo-bin, is being transferred to the prosecution by police vehicle on the 17th at Jongno Police Station in Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

◆ 'Criminal Narrative' Reporting Does Not Help Solve the 'Nth Room' Case

Meanwhile, some media outlets have detailed Kang Hoon's reputation during his school days and his aspirations, which has been criticized for causing secondary harm to the female victims.

The day before Kang Hoon's face was revealed, one media outlet reported that he was a model student who studied well in middle school. Following this, comments appeared on the article requesting that such reporting be stopped. One netizen expressed frustration, saying, "I don't want to know that his dream was to be a developer and that he was called a model student because he studied well."

A female office worker in her 20s, Ms. A, raised her voice, saying, "I don't understand why they keep doing perpetrator-centered reporting, as if he was a model student who made a one-time mistake and committed this crime." She added, "This is simply an article with no gender sensitivity at all."

Another female office worker in her 30s, Ms. B, said, "In the Jo Joo-bin case, there were reports that he was a former school newspaper reporter, but we are not curious about what he did in the past. What we want to know is why such incidents happen and if there are any solutions."

This controversy also arose during the reporting on Jo Joo-bin of the 'Doctor's Room.' Some media outlets reported in detail that he was a former school newspaper reporter, politically progressive, and had harmonious friendships.

On the morning of the 17th, at Jongno Police Station in Seoul, citizens held a picket demanding severe punishment as the vehicle carrying Kang Hoon, known as 'Buddha,' an accomplice who assisted operator Jo Joo-bin in managing and operating the Telegram 'Baksa Room' chatroom, left Jongno Police Station and headed to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Gender Equality Committee: "Reporting Should Raise Awareness of the Seriousness of Digital Sex Crimes and Address Structural Issues"

In response, the Gender Equality Committee of the Korean Federation of Journalists' Unions and the Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media on the 24th of last month urged the following: △ prioritize victim protection during investigation and reporting △ avoid using specific details of the crime in headlines △ ensure the perpetrator's responsibility is not perceived lightly △ avoid expressions that instill incorrect perceptions about victims △ refrain from portraying sex offenders as abnormal individuals. They emphasized the need for reporting that raises awareness of the seriousness of digital sex crimes and addresses structural problems.

The Gender Equality Committee and the Citizens' Coalition stressed, "We must refrain from clickbait articles aimed at internet traffic and remember that competitive reporting or coverage can cause serious secondary harm to victims and their families." They particularly emphasized, "It is a legal obligation not to directly disclose victims' faces, names, ages, or residences."

They added, "Do not use specific details of the crime in headlines," and "Headlines should not attract attention by describing locations or specific acts of the victimization in detail. The content should not excessively describe criminal acts that may cause shock or disgust."

Jo Joo-bin, the operator of the Telegram 'Doctor's Room,' who threatened women including minors to produce and distribute illegal sexual exploitation videos, was transferred from Jongno Police Station in Seoul to the prosecution on the morning of the 25th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

They stated, "The perpetrator's responsibility should not be perceived lightly," and warned against expressions like 'male's inherent sexual impulse' that distort the perception by suggesting men are beings who find it difficult to control their instincts. They emphasized that vague expressions such as 'heinous acts' or 'black hands' should not trivialize human rights violations or dilute the seriousness of the acts.

They also stressed that sex crimes should not be reported as exceptional incidents committed by abnormal individuals.

For example, regarding terms like 'beast,' 'wolf,' or 'devil,' the journalists' union said, "Such terms minimize the perpetrator's actions or otherize the perpetrator as an abnormal being, making the incident appear exceptional," and pointed out, "Sex crimes are not incidents that occur exceptionally by abnormal individuals."

Meanwhile, Kang Hoon is the first minor teenager whose personal information has been disclosed. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency held a personal information disclosure committee on the 16th and decided to disclose Kang's name, age, and face.

Earlier, Kang Hoon opposed this decision and filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court on the afternoon of the same day, requesting cancellation of the disclosure order and applying for a suspension of execution. However, the court dismissed the suspension application for the time being.

The court stated, "The public interest in information overwhelmingly outweighs Kang's honor and future as a minor, so the necessity of disclosing the suspect Kang's identity is recognized."

The court explained, "Kang's actions, the severe harm caused to the victims, the degree of possible condemnation of those actions, and the urgent social need to prevent similar crimes are all highly significant. Kang's actions are not only serious crimes with high social harm but also have exceptional social and cultural aspects."

* If you are experiencing difficulties due to illegal filming or distribution of photos or videos, threats using such materials, or sexual harassment in cyberspace, you can receive support from the Women's Emergency Hotline 1366 or the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center (02-735-8994).

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