Webtoon-Pirating 'Newtoki' Returns Even After Being Blocked... 16,000 Reviews of Illegal Sites That Changed Addresses [1-Day IT Item]

[Financial News] Illegal webtoon and video sites have been reopening under new addresses after being blocked, resulting in more than 16,000 deliberations into related sites over the past three years. That figure accounts for about 67% of all corrective action requests for access blocking over copyright-infringing content. Critics say it is difficult to stop alternative sites from proliferating by blocking individual web addresses alone.
On the 28th, data submitted by the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) to Hwang Jeong-a, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, showed that 24,297 corrective action requests for access blocking over copyright-infringing content had been issued from 2023 through August this year. Of these, 16,390 involved repeated deliberations and corrective action requests resulting from address changes or the launch of alternative sites.
The number of repeated deliberations stood at 6,236 in 2023, 5,771 in 2024, and 1,877 in 2025. This year, the figure reached 2,506 through August, already surpassing last year's annual total.
By site, Whohoo TV received the most corrective action requests, with 205. It was followed by Ajitoon with 146, Newtoki with 137, and TV Wiki and TVCHAK with 117 each. This year alone, TV Wiki received 82 corrective action requests, while Newtoki received 45.
Hwang also raised concerns about access through search engines, saying that major illegal sites appear near the top of Google search results when their names are searched. The point was that users can still find changed addresses or alternative sites even after the original addresses are blocked, making it necessary to address their exposure in search results.
The KCSC explained that, after deciding to block access, it provides block lists to major domestic internet service providers (ISPs) and content delivery network (CDN) operators. However, according to the submitted data, there had been no cases involving requests for investigations or the provision of materials to relevant agencies in connection with copyright infringement.
Hwang said, "Even if illegal-content sites are detected and blocked hundreds of times, if users can find them again with a single search, the damage to the K-Content ecosystem and creators will inevitably continue," adding, "We need to upgrade our response system to reflect the reality that these sites evade enforcement by changing their addresses." She went on to stress the need for effective measures, including rapidly sharing information about alternative sites, requesting investigations, and restricting their exposure in search results.

[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter