Illegal webtoon and video sites have changed their addresses to resume operations after being blocked, resulting in over 16,000 review and correction requests since 2023. This accounts for 67.5% of all requests for access blockades related to copyright infringement, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the current address-based blocking method.
According to data submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Jeong-a to the Broadcasting and Communications Review Committee on September 27, there were a total of 24,297 requests for access blockades related to copyright infringement from 2023 until August. Among these, 16,390 requests were due to repeated reviews and corrections following address changes or the establishment of alternative sites.
The number of repeated review and correction requests was 6,236 in 2023, 5,771 in 2024, 1,877 in 2025, and 2,506 up to August this year. The site with the most requests was 'Huhuhutv' with 205, followed by 'Ajitun' with 146, 'Newtoki' with 137, and both 'Tiviki' and 'Tivichak' with 117 each. This year, Tiviki has been subject to 82 repeated blockades, while Newtoki has faced 45.
The ineffectiveness of repeated blockades stems from the limitations of the current domain and Server Name Indication (SNI) blocking methods used by the Broadcasting and Communications Review Committee. Since the blockades are based on specific domain addresses, operators of illegal sites can quickly open alternative sites using automated scripts that increment the domain number by one in just a few minutes.
Another issue is that users can easily find alternative addresses through search engines. When searching for the names of major illegal sites on Google, related sites appear at the top of the search results, indicating that bypass routes remain open.
The Broadcasting and Communications Review Committee has only provided a list of blockades to major domestic Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Content Delivery Network (CDN) operators after approving access blockades for copyright infringement. There have been no instances of referring cases for investigation or providing data to relevant agencies during this period.
Lawmaker Hwang stated, "Even if illegal content sites are detected and blocked hundreds of times, if they can be found again with a single search, the damage to the K-content ecosystem and creators will continue. The Broadcasting and Communications Review Committee must take steps to refer cases for investigation and strengthen cooperation with major overseas platform operators to develop effective alternatives."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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