Prosecutors and Police Side by Side This Time on Digital Sex Crime Measures

Police 'Sexual Exploitation Material' Dedicated Investigation Team
Prosecutors Apply Strengthened Case Handling Standards
Another Competitive Landscape Following Jeonse Fraud

Kim Young-jun (29), who was arrested on charges of distributing naked photos and videos (so-called 'body cam') of over 1,300 men over eight years, is coming out of the Jongno Police Station detention center in Seoul on June 11 to be transferred to the prosecution. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The prosecution and police announced plans on the same day to crack down on digital sex crimes. Rather than collaboration, it appears to be a scenario of each fending for themselves and competing. Ahead of the implementation of the so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak Act’ (the law for complete removal of prosecution’s investigative authority), the prosecution and police have maintained a competitive stance regarding crimes such as jeonse fraud. This competitive dynamic is expected to continue in the current digital sex crime cases as well.

On the 1st, the police announced that they had formed a dedicated investigation team (TF) to investigate crimes involving sexually exploitative videos of minors similar to the ‘Nth Room’ case. The number of investigation teams was increased from one to six, and the investigative personnel were expanded from six to 35. Currently, the police are investigating Mr. A, who is suspected of violating the Child and Youth Sexual Protection Act, among other charges. Mr. A, known as ‘L’, is accused of coercing minors to film sexually exploitative videos and distributing those videos via Telegram and other platforms. Mr. A’s method of crime is similar to that of the ‘Nth Room’ perpetrators, ‘Doctor’ Jo Joo-bin and ‘GodGod’ Moon Hyung-wook. It is estimated that Mr. A began his activities in 2020 after Jo Joo-bin and Moon Hyung-wook were arrested and continued his crimes until May last year.

The police formed the TF to swiftly investigate and apprehend Mr. A as soon as possible. Several victims have been identified so far, and it is reported that hundreds of related videos exist. The police have announced a strict response, actively investigating not only Mr. A but also those who viewed and possessed sexually exploitative videos. They have also prepared victim support measures, including collaborating with the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center to assist victims in appointing public defenders.

On the same day, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon instructed the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to “utilize forensic science to track crimes to the end and to adhere to strengthened case handling standards, such as detaining suspects involved in the production and distribution of sexually exploitative materials in principle.” Minister Han’s directive was aimed at the case involving Mr. A, which is under police investigation.

Last month, the Ministry of Justice announced a draft government enforcement decree to restore the prosecution’s investigative authority limited by the so-called ‘Geomsu Wanbak Act.’ The enforcement decree amendment, approved at the vice-ministerial meeting on the 1st, significantly expands the scope of corruption and economic crimes that the prosecution can directly investigate. It also categorizes crimes that disrupt judicial order and those for which individual laws require prosecutors to receive complaints or investigation requests as ‘important crimes’ under the Prosecutors’ Office Act, allowing the prosecution to investigate them directly. This move sparked controversy over ‘Geomsu Wanbok’ (restoration of prosecution’s investigative authority).

Amid the Ministry of Justice’s push for the enforcement decree amendment, the prosecution and police are competing to handle common investigative themes. Last month, both the prosecution and police announced investigation blueprints regarding jeonse fraud, which President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered to be dealt with strictly. Additionally, both the prosecution and police have formed dedicated teams or investigation units to respond to telephone financial fraud and other crimes.

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