Prosecutors Indict Jo Joo-bin's Accomplice 'BooTta' Kang Hoon on 11 Charges...

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has indicted Kang Hoon (18), alias 'Butta,' an accomplice who actively participated in the crimes of Jo Joo-bin (24, detained and indicted), the operator of the Telegram 'Doctor's Room,' accused of producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Digital Sex Crime Special Investigation Task Force (led by Chief Prosecutor Yoo Hyun-jung) indicted Kang on the 6th on 11 charges, including production and distribution of obscene materials under the Youth Protection Act.

Kang is accused of recruiting participants under the nickname 'Butta' in the Telegram 'Doctor's Room' operated by Jo and delivering criminal proceeds.

It was confirmed 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.

The prosecution applied charges against Kang including production and distribution of child and youth pornography, sexual assault, coercion of child prostitution, violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (camera-based filming), sexual assault, coercion, threats, fraud, and violation of the Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Criminal Proceeds Concealment, among others.

Additionally, regarding the crimes of producing several so-called 'deepfake' photos that combined nude images with photos of a female acquaintance and distributing them on social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter, the indictment included charges of violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (network intrusion), production and distribution of child and youth pornography, and defamation via information and communications network.

The prosecution first indicted Kang on 11 charges on this day and decided to determine whether to apply the 'criminal organization formation' charge after further investigation.

A prosecution official stated, "We have recognized 36 individuals including Jo Joo-bin and Kang Hoon for charges such as criminal organization formation, conducted raids on offices of those who provided funds for the Doctor's Room sexual exploitation crimes, and will continue investigations in cooperation with the police."

The prosecution also searched Kang's residence and other locations on the 29th of last month to investigate the criminal organization formation charges.

Previously, 13 individuals deeply involved in operating the Doctor's Room, including Jo, were booked on criminal organization formation charges, and 23 paid members were booked on charges of joining and participating in a criminal organization.

A prosecution official added, "We will thoroughly investigate additional accomplices and undiscovered crimes to uncover the full extent of the criminal organization formation and related offenses."

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