SEOUL, August 19 (AJU PRESS) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday it will crack down on websites and platforms illegally distributing Korean content such as K-pop, Korean dramas and webtoons. To enforce this crackdown, it has collaborated with the National Police Agency and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
A Statista report revealed that the K-pop industry generated approximately 11 trillion won ($8.1 billion) in sales in 2022, while the global market for Korean dramas reached $561.3 million. The popularity of Korean content is undeniable, with about 41 percent of people from 26 countries recognizing Korean soaps as highly popular.
This surge in popularity has led to a rapid increase of illegal websites that upload Korean dramas and webtoons immediately after their official release. These sites generate significant revenue from advertisements, often featuring explicit or gambling-related content, which are not normally seen on ordinary websites.
The crackdown is part of President Yoon Suk Yeol's initiative, launched last year, to eradicate the illegal distribution of online content.
In a similar effort last year, police shut down seven major illegal distributors and arrested the operator of an illegal webtoon platform. Three operators of illegal IPTV services in Indonesia were also apprehended.
The ministry stressed the damage caused by these illegal websites, noting that they steal profits from content creators and threaten the integrity of the relevant market ecosystem. "We're collaborating with the National Police Agency to investigate illegal distributors and cut off their criminal proceeds to establish a fair distribution order in the online market," said Jeong Hyang-mi, head of the ministry's IP bureau.
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