Even Library Books Scanned... 'Half-Price PDF E-Book' Seller Apprehended

Ministry Confiscates 9,600 Illegal Files
Intensive Crackdown on Scanning Services Planned for Fall Semester

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has apprehended a suspect for illegally scanning new book releases and exam preparation books, producing and selling them as PDF e-books.

The scene of book seizure used for illegal scanning. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The ministry announced on the 30th that the Copyright Crime Forensic Investigation Unit, in cooperation with the Korea Copyright Protection Agency, had arrested an illegal PDF e-book producer and distributor, and confiscated related equipment.

According to the investigation, since April 2021, the suspect posted advertisements on social networking services (SNS) such as blogs, KakaoTalk channels, and X (formerly Twitter), offering to convert single-volume books, out-of-print books, workbooks, and exam preparation books into PDF e-books for customers. The suspect then scanned used books or library-loaned books to create PDF files and sold them for approximately 50% of the original book price.

On the 22nd, the investigation unit searched the suspect's residence and seized about 500 books used in the crime, approximately 9,600 illegally scanned PDF e-book files, computers, and other equipment. Digital forensic analysis is currently underway.

The ministry estimated the damages to the publishing industry from this illegal activity at about 300 million won and the criminal proceeds gained by the suspect at about 100 million won.

The ministry explained that purchasing a book grants only ownership rights, while copyright remains with the author and publisher. It emphasized that commercial scanning services constitute a copyright infringement, as they do not fall under the "reproduction for private use" exception stipulated in copyright law.

The ministry continues to crack down each year on the illegal binding of textbooks and distribution of scanned PDF files, especially around university campuses at the start of each academic semester. This fall semester, the ministry plans to intensively target illegal scanning service providers.

Kim Jaehyun, Director-General for Culture and Media Industry at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "This case is a serious crime that nullifies the hard work and dedication of creators and destroys a healthy publishing ecosystem. We will relentlessly pursue those distributing illegal copies and respond with strict measures."

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