Arrest Warrant Denied for Telegram Operator of 'Juhonggeulssi·Wanjangbang'

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The arrest warrant requested by the prosecution for a man in his 20s, who is accused of producing and distributing hundreds of sexually exploitative videos while acting as an operator of the Telegram chat rooms 'Juhonggeulssi' and 'Wanjangbang,' was dismissed by the court.

On the 14th, Won Jeongsuk, chief judge of the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a pre-arrest interrogation of Song Mo (25), who is charged with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse, among other charges, and subsequently dismissed the arrest warrant.

Chief Judge Won stated the reason for dismissing the warrant, saying, "At this stage, it is difficult to recognize the grounds and reasonableness for detaining the suspect."

He explained, "This case differs from crimes in the 'Nth Room' and 'Doctor's Room,' where victims were threatened to produce and distribute sexually exploitative materials," and added, "There is room to consider the extent of the suspect's involvement as an administrator, not the creator, of 'Juhonggeulssi.'"

Song is accused of producing and distributing hundreds of sexually exploitative materials targeting children and adolescents in Telegram chat rooms, and possessing about 120 sexually exploitative materials produced by Jo Joo-bin (24).

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Digital Sexual Crime Special Investigation Unit applied for an arrest warrant for Song on the 12th of this month on charges including violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse, and the prosecution reviewed and requested the warrant from the court.

According to the police, Song used the chat name 'Mihee' and acted as an operator in Telegram chat rooms named 'Juhonggeulssi' and 'Wanjangbang.' Initially, the police investigated with the possibility that Song was an accomplice of Jo Joo-bin in mind, but it was found that Song was not involved in operating the 'Doctor's Room.'

The police continue to investigate sexual exploitation crimes occurring in various Telegram chat rooms, including tracking the providers of funds (paid members) for the 'Doctor's Room' sexual exploitation crimes.

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