[Exclusive] Digital Sex Crimes, Increase in Victims Under 14... 'Digital Grooming' Still Prevalent

Counseling for Youth Victims Decreased
But Child Victim Counseling Increased Over 4 Years
Access Through 'Chat Apps' Remains

Although the number of new consultations for digital sex crime victims decreased last year, the number of child victims under the age of 14 was found to have increased. Since the 'Telegram Nth Room incident,' social interest in the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents has grown, and the age of victims is becoming younger.

According to the status of sexual exploitation victims under the age of 14 over the past five years (2018?2022) disclosed by the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute's Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center at the '5th Anniversary Commemorative Forum' held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 19th, the total number of consultations for victims under 19 years old has recently decreased. The number steadily increased from 59 in 2018 to 721 in 2021, then dropped to 629 last year.

However, the number of sexual exploitation victims under the age of 14 has continuously increased. It rose from 11 in 2019 to 91 in 2020, and then surged from 134 in 2021 to 169 in 2022.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kang Myung-sook, team leader of the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute's Connection Support Team, explained, "The age group targeted by crimes is getting younger, and sexual exploitation is becoming more severe. Especially in the case of children and adolescents, counseling results show that grooming is the starting point of the victimization."

Digital grooming refers to the act of approaching children and adolescents through online chats, mobile messengers, and SNS (social networking services) to lure and tame victims, facilitating sexual exploitation and preventing exposure of the abuse. In fact, the most common initial route for perpetrators to approach children under 14 was chat apps (36.8%), followed by SNS (24.8%) and games (13.4%). Notably, the route through games was more than twice as common for those under 14 compared to those aged 14 and above (5.1%).

Team leader Kang pointed out, "The characteristic of online grooming sexual exploitation of children and adolescents is the spread of victim footage accompanied by 'name + school + characteristics,' which makes the problem more serious. We must remember that wherever children and adolescents are, there are criminals targeting them, and sexual exploitation can occur."

Heo Min-sook, a legislative researcher at the National Assembly Legislative Research Office, also analyzed, "Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable age group to grooming crimes. It is also problematic how many young adolescents do not report these crimes." She added, "Education is needed on how to report digital sex crimes against children and what constitutes digital sex crime victimization. It is also necessary to review the still high probation rate for digital sex crime offenders."

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