Kim Nok-wan, Leader of Largest Sexual Exploitation Case in Korea, Appeals Life Sentence from First Trial

[The Financial News] Kim Nok-wan, the leader of the 'Vigilante Corps' responsible for the largest sexual exploitation case in Korea, has appealed the life sentence handed down in his first trial.
It was confirmed that on the 27th, Kim submitted a notice of appeal to the Criminal Division 26 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Hyun-Kyung Lee.
Previously, on the 27th, the court sentenced Kim Nok-wan to life imprisonment on charges including the production and distribution of child and youth sexual exploitation materials, rape, organizing a criminal group, threats, and coercion. The court stated, "Sending the victim's sexual video to her father and visiting her workplace during the course of threatening a specific victim is extremely perverse, cruel, and vicious." The court further noted, "He also demonstrated meticulousness by committing crimes under the cover of anonymity. When his accomplices were arrested, the defendant instructed them on how to respond to investigations, showing a high degree of delinquency."
From May 2020 to January this year, Kim Nok-wan organized the cyber sexual assault group 'Vigilante Corps' and is accused of producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials targeting children, adolescents, and adults, as well as raping both adults and minors, committing a total of 19 crimes. Kim referred to himself as a 'pastor' and called his members 'evangelists' while forming the criminal group 'Vigilante Corps.'
Investigations by the prosecution and police revealed that there were a total of 234 victims of the 'Vigilante Corps,' more than three times the number of victims in the so-called 'Doctor's Room' run by Cho Joo-bin (73 victims). The group produced approximately 1,700 pieces of sexual exploitation material, including those involving children and adolescents. In addition, Kim is accused of threatening to distribute nude photos unless the victims had sex with men arranged by the group, then impersonating those men to sexually assault nine child and adolescent victims.
theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter