Life sentence upheld for Telegram-based sex crime network leader
Published: 29 Apr. 2026, 15:40
![Mugshots of Kim Nok-wan, the leader of a Telegram sex crime ring [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/29/f35b89c1-1df1-404f-a804-0edb8adaeb92.jpg)
Mugshots of Kim Nok-wan, the leader of a Telegram sex crime ring [YONHAP]
An appellate court upheld a life sentence for Kim Nok-wan, who was convicted of running a Telegram-based sex crime network in Korea that exploited minors, on Wednesday.
The sentence was handed down by the Seoul High Court.
Kim was convicted on charges including organizing and operating a criminal group, producing and distributing sexually exploitative and illegally filmed materials and quasi-rape, which is defined in Korean law as assault of someone who is unconscious or otherwise incapable of consenting or resisting.
The court also ordered Kim to wear an electronic monitoring device for 30 years while imposing a 10-year ban on employment at institutions related to children, youth and people with disabilities, and 10 years of public disclosure of personal information.
“Kim continued his crimes by threatening new victims even after some accomplices were caught by investigators,” the court said. “It is likely that many of the fabricated videos distributed online are still circulating.”
The court noted his behavior as “deviant and sadistic,” saying it had left the victims with irreversible shame.
“He completely disregarded the value of human dignity,” the court said. “Such crimes against human rights require severe punishment.”
The court stressed the need for strict punishment, considering the risk of copycat crimes, citing exposure to the so-called Nth Room case that preceded this case. The Nth Room case came to light in 2019 and involved a series of sexual exploitation crimes carried out on Telegram between 2018 and 2020.
“Strict punishment was necessary to raise public awareness and prevent similar crimes,” the court said.
Other members of the group who were indicted alongside Kim also had their prison terms upheld, while some received suspended sentences.
Several defendants in their teens were sentenced to prison terms, ranging from one year and six months to four years. Defendants in their 20s also received sentences, including four years in prison. All were also ordered to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program and were banned from working at institutions related to children, youth and people with disabilities for three years.
![The Seoul High Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul is seen on Feb. 5. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/29/7792b3e1-ba6a-4ba5-8657-ecef58066e90.jpg)
The Seoul High Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul is seen on Feb. 5. [YONHAP]
Teenage defendants who were sentenced to four years and three years in prison were taken into custody in court.
“For those who produced sexually exploitative materials, which are crimes punishable by life imprisonment or at least five years in prison, we upheld prison sentences as in the lower court,” the court said. “Even taking into account the defendants' young ages and other mitigating factors, there is a need to reinforce the public understanding that such acts will lead to prison terms.”
Kim was arrested and indicted in February of last year on charges of organizing a cyber sexual violence group called “Vigilante Corps” between May 2020 and January 2025. He was accused of raping minors and producing and distributing sexually exploitative content. There were 261 victims, including 159 teenagers.
Kim, who referred to himself as a “Pastor,” assigned ranks such as senior evangelist, junior evangelist and trainee evangelist to accomplices, directing them to recruit victims and produce and distribute exploitative content.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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