According to Yonhap News on May 13, the Suwon District Court issued an arrest warrant for a man in his 40s, identified as A, who faces charges under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes and the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth from Sexual Abuse. The court cited concerns over potential flight and evidence destruction as reasons for the warrant.
A is accused of posting a large volume of illegal filming materials on the AVMOV site and profiting from these crimes.
On May 11, the Cyber Investigation Division of the Southern Gyeonggi Police Agency arrested A and another suspect, B, at Incheon International Airport as they were returning to South Korea. The two had fled to Thailand after the police investigation began but reportedly expressed their intention to return after diplomatic measures, including the invalidation of their passports, were taken against them. While the police applied for arrest warrants for both A and B, only A's warrant was approved.
The Southern Gyeonggi Police Agency had detected the AVMOV site during its monitoring efforts in December of the previous year and subsequently launched an investigation. They identified A, B, and seven other suspects associated with the site, all facing charges under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes. Evidence, including computers, has been seized from five of the suspects' residences for analysis, and further investigations are planned for another suspect. One individual remains at large abroad, and police are tracking them through diplomatic channels.
Following the news of the arrests, President Lee Jae-myung warned on May 12 via his X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, "Even if they hide overseas, we will forcibly repatriate them and ensure they face severe punishment."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.