The main perpetrator of the digital sex crime case known as Seoul University Nth Room has been handed over for trial.
Park, who appeared at the first trial, appeared with signs of anxiety as he trembled and shed tears the moment he entered the courtroom.
On June 4, the 31st Criminal Agreement of the Seoul Central District Court held the first trial for Park who was arrested and charged with violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (editing and distributing false videos).
During the trial, Park’s defense attorney acknowledged some of the facts of the charges.
While Park’s lawyer admitted to the fact of posting and transmitting deepfake composites, he denied the charge of possessing child exploitation materials. He also argued that it is unfair to recognize the act of distribution as possession.
When asked if the victims and Park knew each other, he replied, “I knew some of them but there were also some I didn’t know.” To this, the victim’s lawyer said, “Many are appealing their pain, but we will sort out the relationship between each victim and the perpetrator and submit it to the court.”
From the moment Park entered the courtroom, he was shaking all over and crying so much that his nose had turned red. He even showed signs of distress, covering his face as the prosecution read the summary of the charges.
When the judge asked if he was consistent with the position stated by his lawyer, Park, dressed in a khaki prisoner’s uniform, trembled and answered, “Yes.”
The Seoul University Nth Room case involves Park, a Seoul University graduate, and another suspect identified as Kang. From July 2021 to April this year, both suspects created and distributed illegal composite materials using graduation photos or social media pictures of dozens of university alumni.
According to the police investigation, the number of obscene materials produced and distributed by Park alone amounts to about 100 and 1,700 respectively. So far, 61 female victims have been identified, including 12 alumni of Seoul University. It was also revealed that minors were included among the victims.
Previously, the Cyber Investigation Team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested a group of five and handed two, including Park, over to the prosecution under arrest. A third suspect other than Park and Kang, was identified as Han. Both Kang and Han are expected to be handed over for trial soon.
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