South Korean police arrested a 21-year-old man involved in a large sexual exploitation ring, authorities said. The suspect allegedly led a group that exploited 342 people by luring them with offers to create fake photos. Victims requested images, and the suspects then blackmailed them by threatening to share the content publicly.
Officials said the suspect pressured victims into sexually exploitative acts and recruited some into the criminal operation. The criminal group, known as Chamgoyukdan or “group for true education,” assigned members specific roles in the scheme. Authorities reported that the three leaders previously worked in middle management for sites exposing personal information online.
Police arrested another leader in August 2021, along with 62 group members, who received long prison sentences. The third leader of the crime ring remains at large and is still under investigation, police said. The recent arrest stemmed from a broader investigation into online sexual exploitation cases in November 2023.
This arrest occurred during a special National Police Agency crackdown on cyber sex crimes from November 1, 2024. Officials arrested 28 suspects and investigated 418 individuals during the yearlong operation targeting sexual exploitation and digital crimes. Authorities noted that 35.4 percent of the suspects created exploitative content involving children and teenagers. Meanwhile, 25.6 percent were accused of filming victims without consent, and 23.7 percent produced fake videos.
Police emphasized that the investigation highlighted the link between digital tools and organized sexual exploitation. Officials warned the public to remain cautious and report suspicious online offers that could involve blackmail or abuse.
