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Telegram sex crime suspect extorts from high-profile figures

By Kim Se-jeong Sohn Seok-heeCho Ju-bin, 24, accused of blackmailing women and minors to make sexually abusive videos, is also facing fraud allegations involving two journalists and a former politician, according to police Thursday.Outside Jongno Police Office in Seoul, Wednesday, Cho mentioned Sohn Seok-hee, a former journalist and CEO of cable news channel JTBC; Yoon Jang-hyeon, a former Gwangju mayor; and Kim Woong, an independent journalist, in his public apology.The unexpected statement by Cho made many speculate that these three mentioned have some involvement in his crimes. The police quickly dismissed the speculation, saying the three had nothing to do with the sex crimes, briefly adding that the three could be fraud victims of Cho and that the police force was investigating.Details of fraud involving Sohn was made public the same day, as the CEO released a statement explaining what had happened. According to the statement, “Cho approached me through Telegram, saying he was running a private detective agency and one of his clients was K, with whom I had a legal fight. H

Mar 26, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Telegram sex crime suspect extorts from high-profile figures

'Thank you for stopping my life as the devil'

Cho Ju-bin, a suspect who allegedly blackmailed women and minors to make sexually abusive videos and sold them, has his face go public outside Jongno Police Office in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kim Se-jeong Cho Ju-bin, 24, who allegedly blackmailed minors and women to create sexually abusive videos and distributed the material in secret chat rooms on Telegram, appeared in front of the press Wednesday, outside Jongno Police Station in Seoul. “Thank you for putting a brake on the life of a devil that couldn't be stopped,” he said unapologetically, drawing outrage from women's rights group activists and other citizens who were watching him speak outside the station. “You're a murderer,” said an online commenter. “From the chat room to prison,” said another, adding, “Find all men who watched the videos and prosecute them.”Cho was wearing a neck brace and had a Band-Aid on his forehead. Earlier, police said he had attempted to injure himself, claiming he was innocent. During his statement to the press, he mention

Mar 25, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
'Thank you for stopping my life as the devil'

Telegram sex offender's case sent to prosecution

Cho Ju-bin. YonhapA man suspected of blackmailing dozens of victims, including minors, into performing violent sex acts and selling the videos in mobile chat rooms was handed over to the prosecution on Wednesday for further investigation.At least 74 people, including 16 underage girls, are known to have been exploited in the case, widely known as the "Nth room case," in which prime suspect Cho Ju-bin allegedly lured victims into taking photos and later coerced them into performing more gruesome sex acts.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency sent Cho's case to the prosecution on charges including violation of the act on the protection of children and youth against sex offenses.The 24-year-old, whose name and photo were released on Tuesday, appeared in front of the public early Wednesday as he was being transferred to the prosecution from a detention unit at Jongno Police Station in central Seoul."I genuinely apologize to everyone who has suffered harm because of me, including President Sohn Suk-hee, Mayor Yoon Jang-hyeon and journalist Kim Woong," said Cho, who was wearing a neck prote

Mar 25, 2020
Telegram sex offender's case sent to prosecution

Police chief vows full probe into everyone involved in Telegram child porn case

Min Gap-ryong, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency / Korea Times fileThe head of South Korea's police made a public commitment Tuesday to a thorough investigation into a "cruel and shocking" sexual crime against women and underage girls centered on group chat rooms of the Telegram messenger service.Min Gap-ryong, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, vowed to mobilize every available means and power of the authorities to look thoroughly into the so-called "Nth room case" and legally punish all related offenders.He was responding to five online petitions, filed by the presidential office, demanding a strict probe into the scandal and the revelation of personal information of an arrested main suspect in his 20s. More than 5 million people signed the petitions on the Cheong Wa Dae website in less than a week.Min said it was a "cruel and shocking crime completely taking away the lives of children, teenagers and women.""Through strict investigation, the police will fully transform social awareness that is insensitive to digital sex crimes and str

Mar 24, 2020
Police chief vows full probe into everyone involved in Telegram child porn case

Telegram Nth room suspect to stand in 'photo line'

By Bahk Eun-jiThe primary suspect of the so-called Nth room case, who allegedly operated an illegal content ring focused on humiliation and torture of women including underage victims on the Telegram messenger app, will be shown to the public in a press photo line, Wednesday, according to the police Tuesday. This will be the first time for law enforcement authorities to disclose the face of a sex offender.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, a committee consisting of three internal members and four outside members, including lawmakers, university professors, and psychiatrists, decided to disclose the identity of the suspect, Cho Ju-bin, 25, considering his malicious methods of producing and distributing sexually explicit and disturbingly abusive video content of women and minors.“The committee made the decision after reviewing fully the reasons for limiting disclosure of his identity, including the human rights of the suspect and secondary damage to the suspect's family and neighbors,” the police said. Broadcaster SBS revealed the face of Cho Ju-bin, 25, the

Mar 24, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Telegram Nth room suspect to stand in 'photo line'

Police release identity of notorious child porn suspect after public outrage

Cho Ju-bin, 25, the primary suspect in the notorious child porn case, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, March 19. YonhapCho Ju-binA police committee on Tuesday agreed to disclose the identity of a man suspected of blackmailing dozens of victims to perform violent sex acts and selling the content in a mobile group chat room.At least 74 people, including 16 underaged girls, are known to have been exploited in the case that is widely known as the "Nth room case," in which the prime suspect allegedly lured victims into taking naked photos and later threatened them into more gruesome sex acts.Cho Ju-bin, 25, who used the nickname "baksa," which means "doctor" or "guru" in Korean, is accused of distributing and streaming the videos in a group chat room on the messaging service Telegram.Some of the room's up to 10,000 users are suspected of paying Cho as much as 1.5 million won (US$1,195) to view the content in which the suspects were sometimes treated as sex slaves. The payments were reportedly processed via cryptocurrencies.Police have so far tracked down 124 peop

Mar 24, 2020
Police release identity of notorious child porn suspect after public outrage

Face of notorious child porn suspect revealed

Broadcaster SBS has revealed the face of Cho Joo-bin, 25, the notorious child porn suspect. Courtesy of SBSMore than 2 million people have signed an online petition as of Monday demanding the government unveil the identity of a man who allegedly ran a group chat room where photos and videos of violent sex acts, involving underaged victims, were distributed.At least 74 victims are known to have been exploited in the so-called Nth room case, in which a man surnamed Cho allegedly lured victims into taking naked photos and later threatened and exploited them into more gruesome sex acts.Cho, who used the nickname "baksa," which means "doctor" or "guru" in Korean, is accused of distributing the videos in a group chat room on the messaging service Telegram, where some of up to 10,000 users are suspected of paying Cho to watch the videos.Cho reportedly charged the viewers in cryptocurrency, which makes it more difficult for authorities to track down perpetrators compared with other financial payment methods, such as credit cards and mobile phone payments.Police have so far tracked down 124 p

Mar 24, 2020
Face of notorious child porn suspect revealed

Korea University staffer accused of data breach, sexual harassment

Korea University / Korea Times fileBy Jun Ji-hyePolice have booked a staff member of Korea University for accessing personal data of dozens of international students at the college in order to sexually harass them, according to police and school officials Monday.Seoul Seongbuk Police Station said its officials are investigating the Personal Information Protection Act violation by the staff member, identified by only by his last name Park, who has worked at the global service center of the university since March 16. Park allegedly sent text messages on Kakao Talk to about 40 Chinese students at the university, saying things such as “I fell in love with you at first sight,” “I want to learn more about you,” and “I am a good guy.”He began sending such messages from his first day on the job.When several students asked about how he got their contact details, he responded, “I was lucky,” or “I saw it on the school website.”Students who received the messages made a report to the school with the assistance of a student organization.

Mar 23, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Korea University staffer accused of data breach, sexual harassment

College official suspended for flirting with 40 Chinese students after stealing phone numbers

YonhapBy Jung Min-hoA Korea University official has been suspended for flirting with 40 international students after allegedly stealing their phone numbers from a database.According to police and Korea University, the man is being investigated for allegedly violating the personal information protection law after sending KakaoTalk messages like “I had a crush on you” to 40 Chinese students for several days from March 16 ― the day he started working there.After receiving the messages, some students complained to the school, which reported the matter to police on March 20.A Korea University representative reportedly said the man has been suspended and will be fired eventually.

Mar 23, 2020By Jung Min-ho
College official suspended for flirting with 40 Chinese students after stealing phone numbers

Police nab 124 Telegram sex criminals

A screen captured photo from an online petition page run by presidential office, Monday, shows that more than 2.2 million people have signed the petition demanding the police disclose the identity of a man who allegedly ran an illegal pornographic chat room. / Screen captured from presidential office websiteBy Bahk Eun-jiMore than 100 men have been arrested for allegedly being involved in a group chat room where sexual exploitation and assaults on minors were operated via an app named Telegram Messenger, the police said Monday.According to the National Police Agency, a total of 124 men were arrested as of Friday, including the primary suspect, currently known by his surname Cho and his nickname on Telegram “Baksa (doctor),” who appears to be one of individuals who produced and sold the sexually exploitive video content. The pornography ring on Telegram is also accused of blackmailing women and minors into starring in the videos and selling them to other users on the messenger platform, the police said. A man surnamed Cho, who is suspected of running chat rooms on Telegram

Mar 23, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Police nab 124 Telegram sex criminals
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