Broadcast and media industry thanks police for busting group behind illegal “fast movies”

[Financial News] Six media companies, including CJ ENM, KBS, MBC, SBS, Kakao Entertainment Corp. and Wavve, presented a plaque of appreciation to Yangsan Police Station for investigating an organized group that earned several billion won by illegally editing and distributing dramas and films.
CJ ENM said on the 30th that it had visited Yangsan Police Station on behalf of the six media companies and presented a plaque of appreciation to Chief Kim Gyeong-su and the investigation team. The station was recognized for uncovering organized copyright infringement and preventing further harm caused by illegal distribution.
Last August, Yangsan Police Station referred eight people, including the head of a company, and one corporation to prosecutors on suspicion of operating 26 YouTube channels that summarized and edited dramas and films without the copyright holders’ permission and pocketing 3.745 billion won in illicit profits. The works they edited and distributed without authorization belonged to seven companies, including broadcasters and content production companies. The channels had a combined 1.46 million subscribers, including duplicate accounts.
Investigators found that the suspects divided up responsibilities, including scriptwriting, video editing and posting, and financial management, to produce and distribute illegal content. Some videos condensing the plots and endings of entire dramas into two to three hours drew 6.3 million views. When copyright infringement reports led to a video or channel being blocked, they reposted the same content on another channel. They also earned money through paid memberships and shopping tags, in addition to advertising.
The media companies said the case was significant because, rather than stopping at requests to remove videos from channels that illegally edited and distributed content, they identified the operators of multiple channels and signs of organized criminal activity and coordinated their response.
They pointed out that illegal distribution in the form of fast movies is becoming organized around corporate entities, extending beyond individual operators.
“As video platforms grow, copyright infringement crimes involving the unauthorized processing and distribution of content for illicit gain are also increasing,” Yangsan Police Station Chief Kim Gyeong-su said. “We will continue to crack down on organized and habitual violations of intellectual property rights and respond firmly.”
Jeong Dong-wan, who oversees legal affairs and compliance at CJ ENM, cited cases in Japan where illegal distribution declined after fast-movie operators faced criminal penalties and courts ordered them to pay damages. “I hope that, in Korea as well, rigorous investigations by law enforcement agencies and strict rulings by the courts will put an end to free-riding on creators’ efforts,” he said.
The content industry expressed concern that if summary videos featuring the plots and endings of original works replace viewing them on legitimate over-the-top (OTT) services and video-on-demand (VOD) platforms, revenue for production companies and creators, as well as funds for producing new content, could decline. The six media companies said they would continue to respond to illegal distribution across various platforms.

[email protected] Yoon Hong-jip Reporter