The leader of a Telegram sex crime ring, which facilitated the exchange of thousands of sexual abuse materials, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in South Korea.
Kim Nok-wan, 33, was the head of the so-called Vigilantes, a large-scale, pyramid-style organization that blackmailed victims into producing explicit content and sharing it in online chatrooms.
Between May 2020 and January 2025, the Vigilantes exploited at least 261 individuals, marking the largest number of cybersex exploitation victims in South Korea's history.
Under his self-designated title of pastor, Kim systematically conducted crimes including the sexual assault of minors and the distribution of child sex abuse images.
The court found him guilty of organizing and operating a criminal organization, producing and distributing sexually exploitative material, and committing sexual assault under conditions where the victims could not resist, leading to his life sentence.
Although Kim expressed remorse, the court emphasized the severity of his actions, stating that it was necessary to permanently isolate him from society due to the brutality of his crimes.
Kim sought out both male and female victims on social networks, luring them to Telegram before blackmailing them with threats of disclosing their personal information. Some victims were then recruited into the Vigilantes and given titles like evangelist and deacon to further the organization's reach.
Under Kim’s leadership, victims were coerced into submitting detailed reports and letters of remorse, facing punishments that included forced nude photographs and self-harm.
The volume of sexually exploitative content produced by the Vigilantes surpassed 2,000 pieces of media, with Kim personally operating at least 60 chat rooms for these activities.
This case marks a significant moment in combating online sexual violence, with Telegram cooperating with South Korean authorities for the first time to facilitate investigations leading to Kim’s arrest. A formal system of investigative cooperation between the Korean National Police Agency and Telegram was established in October 2024, allowing authorities access to crucial information.
