'Pastor of Sexual-Exploitation Vigilante Group' Kim Nok-wan Given Life Sentence

[Financial News] Kim Nok-wan, 34, the ringleader of the largest-ever Telegram sexual-exploitation operation, has had his life sentence finalized by the Supreme Court of Korea.

The Supreme Court of Korea's Second Division, with Justice Kwon Young-jun presiding over the case, dismissed Kim Nok-wan's appeal on the 10th and finalized his life sentence on charges including organizing a criminal group.

Kim Nok-wan was accused of organizing the multilevel sexual-violence criminal group Vigilante Corps on Telegram in May 2020 and, through January last year, directing the production of sexually exploitative material and sexual assaults against 234 victims.

Inside the sexual-exploitation chatroom known as Moksabang, he instructed victims to refer to him as the “Pastor.” Members were assigned ranks such as “evangelist” and “prospective evangelist,” creating a hierarchical relationship.

The lower and appellate courts sentenced him to life imprisonment. They also ordered 10 years of public disclosure and notification of his personal information, a 10-year employment ban at institutions related to children, adolescents and people with disabilities, and the wearing of an electronic location-tracking device for 30 years.

[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter