(Source: BBC)South Korea has sentenced Kim Nok-wan, a 33-year-old leader of a large Telegram-based sex crime operation, to life in prison for orchestrating the nation’s largest known cybersex exploitation scheme.
Kim led a pyramid-style organization called the Vigilantes, which forced victims to create explicit content and circulated thousands of sexually exploitative images from 2020 to 2025. Authorities report that at least 261 individuals — including minors — were victimized, marking the highest number of victims ever documented in a South Korean cybersex case.
Operating under the self-proclaimed title of “pastor,” Kim blackmailed both women and men he attracted through social media, threatening to disclose personal details or report them to the authorities. Some victims were coerced into roles within the organization, receiving titles like “evangelist” and “deacon,” and were tasked with recruiting others.
The court highlighted the gravity and extent of Kim’s offenses — which included the rape of underage victims, forced sexual acts, and the creation of over 2,000 exploitative media files — when deciding to impose a life sentence, stating he must be “permanently isolated from society.”
Kim managed or took part in at least 453 Telegram chatrooms, utilizing them to execute and disseminate abuse. His arrest was facilitated by unprecedented collaboration from Telegram, which began officially sharing crime-related information with South Korean law enforcement in 2024.
Officials assert that this case highlights the escalating danger of online sexual exploitation and the urgent need for enhanced protections in the digital era.
