20s Male Arrested for Distributing and Selling 'n번방 Child Sexual Exploitation Material'... First Case of Redistributor

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A man in his 20s who resold child sexual exploitation materials produced and distributed in the Telegram 'Baksa Bang' and 'n번방' was arrested. This is the first arrest warrant issued for a person who only redistributed sexual exploitation videos.

On the 30th, Kim Tae-gyun, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant requested by the prosecution after conducting a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant substantive examination) for Mr. A (26), who is suspected of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials, etc.).

Judge Kim stated, "The facts of the crime have been substantiated, and considering the scale of the 'child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials' sold through the dark web by the suspect and the extent of the resulting damage, the case is serious. Taking into account the progress of the investigation so far and the attitude during the investigation and hearing process, it is recognized that the suspect may destroy evidence or flee."

Earlier, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Special Investigation Unit on Digital Sexual Crimes applied for an arrest warrant on the 26th for Mr. A (26), who is suspected of purchasing a large amount of child sexual exploitation materials and reselling them on the dark web. Mr. A purchased about 3,000 child sexual exploitation materials from March to April this year and then resold them.

The police are also pursuing those who purchased child sexual exploitation materials from Mr. A. The investigation is ongoing by identifying and summoning dozens of people who redistributed or posted sales advertisements for Baksa Bang-related child sexual exploitation materials on the dark web or Twitter, similar to Mr. A. Whether Mr. A is detained is expected to serve as a benchmark for the level of punishment for those who redistribute such illegal videos. Additionally, the police, in cooperation with the Korea Communications Commission, have deleted or blocked about 1,900 Baksa Bang-related sexual exploitation materials uploaded on the internet.

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