Main Perpetrators of Nth Room Case Stand Trial... Victims' Suffering Continues

[n Room 1 Year Later, Part 1]

Jo Joo-bin Sentenced to 42 Years in Second Trial... Accomplices Also Facing Judgment
Police to Intensify Cyber Sexual Violence Crackdown Until October
Investigation Underway for Second n Room Case... Some Suspects Arrested and Charged

[Asia Economy Reporters Seung-yoon Song and Jeong-yoon Lee] The so-called ‘n번방’ (Nth Room) case, which sparked nationwide outrage early last year, has seen the main perpetrators, who seemed to have disappeared forever after a massive police investigation began, being arrested one after another, and related individuals are facing legal judgment.

Jo Joo-bin (26), the operator of the ‘Doctor’s Room’ and the instigator of this case known as ‘Doctor,’ was sentenced to 42 years in prison in the second trial on the 1st, following the first trial. After the appellate sentencing hearing held at the Seoul High Court that day, he issued an apology through his father, expressing a belated remorse by saying, "Beyond legal obligations, I will not neglect repaying the victims." Jo was sentenced to 45 years in prison in the first trial but received a 3-year reduction in the second trial. However, he has recently been additionally indicted on charges including forced molestation and coercion and is awaiting trial. His accomplices, Kang Hoon (19), known as ‘Bbootta,’ and Lee Won-ho (20), known as ‘Igya,’ were sentenced to 15 years and 12 years in prison, respectively. Another accomplice, Nam Kyung-eup (30), has been prosecuted with a 20-year prison sentence and is awaiting the first trial verdict.

Moon Hyung-wook (25), the operator of the n번방 ‘GodGod,’ was sentenced to 34 years in prison in the first trial and has appealed; the second trial is ongoing. His accomplice Ahn Seung-jin (26) was sentenced to 8 years in prison in the first trial. Additionally, Shin Mo (33), known as ‘Kelly,’ who operated a chatroom distributing sexually exploitative materials similar to the n번방, and Jeon Mo (38), known as ‘Watchman,’ who acted as a gateway for the n번방, were sentenced to 4 years and 7 years in prison, respectively.

Major Figures Punishment Status Related to n번방 and Doctor’s Room
Main Case	Key Figures	Charges	Sentences
Doctor’s Room	Jo Joo-bin (Doctor)	Violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, Organizing a Criminal Group, etc.	2nd trial: 42 years imprisonment
	Kang Hoon (Bbootta)	Violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, etc.	1st trial: 15 years imprisonment
	Lee Won-ho (Igya)	Violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, etc.	2nd trial: 12 years imprisonment
	Nam Kyung-eup	Sexual Violence Punishment Act, Joining a Criminal Organization, etc.	1st trial: 20 years imprisonment requested
n번방 (Nth Room)	Moon Hyung-wook	Violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, etc.	1st trial: 34 years imprisonment
	Ahn Seung-jin	Violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, etc.	1st trial: 8 years imprisonment
	Jeon Mo (Watchman)	Violation of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, etc.	1st trial: 7 years imprisonment
	Shin Mo (Kelly)	Violation of the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, etc.	1st trial: 4 years imprisonment

However, despite legal punishment being carried out, additional harm continues, and the suffering of victims and secondary victimization remain ongoing. A victim of the singer Jung Joon-young’s case posted a petition on the Blue House’s national petition site asking to "stop further secondary victimization," demanding disciplinary action against YouTube broadcast participants who insulted her, and appealed for △disabling comments on sexual crime news on portals △legislation on secondary victimization punishment laws for sexual crimes △legislation related to protecting victims’ personal information in civil lawsuits.

The Digital Sexual Crime Special Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, launched in response to the n번방 case, arrested more than 3,500 related offenders over nine months until December last year and then concluded its operation. During its operation, the police announced the arrest status of related offenders nationwide each time but no longer publishes statistics. Instead, digital sexual crimes are being continuously cracked down on, centered on cyber sexual violence investigation teams in local police agencies nationwide. The National Police Agency plans to conduct a ‘Focused Crackdown on Illegal Distribution Networks and Distributors of Cyber Sexual Violence’ until October, targeting △illegal distribution networks of sexually exploitative materials on secure messengers like Telegram and the dark web △sexually exploitative materials △illegal filming materials △illegal synthetic materials, cracking down on suppliers who produce and distribute these materials and users who purchase, possess, or view them.

The police recently also launched an investigation into a large-scale illegal filming video distribution case, called the ‘Second n번방.’ In this chatroom, sexually exploitative materials of about 100 female victims, along with their names, addresses, and occupations, were distributed. The initial illegal filmer, Mr. A, committed suicide after the police investigation began, but videos he distributed were re-distributed on Telegram and other platforms before his death. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, investigating this case, has booked some individuals involved in distributing and possessing illegal filming materials and is tracking the remaining suspects. The police have also launched investigations into illegal filming material sharing websites, dubbed the ‘Second Soranet.’ It has been confirmed that these videos were also distributed there.

A police official said, "We always conduct strict investigations regarding digital sexual crimes," adding, "We will root out digital sexual crimes by thoroughly tracking not only producers and distributors of sexually exploitative materials but also simple possessors."

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