Police from six countries, including South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, conducted a joint investigation into child pornography that sexually exploits children online.
The Korean National Police Agency reported on the 5th that these investigative authorities conducted a joint investigation into online child sexual exploitation materials for two months from February to March, resulting in the identification of 544 individuals, of whom 435 were arrested.
Among those arrested, the number apprehended by the Korean National Police Agency reached 374. By type of crime, 258 individuals were found to possess or view child sexual exploitation materials, 74 were producers, and 42 were distributors.
The largest age group was teenagers, who were of similar age to the victims, numbering 213. Following them were 127 individuals in their 20s, 23 in their 30s, 10 in their 40s, and one individual over 50. The Korean National Police Agency placed 13 of them under detention.
Those arrested were found to have synthesized the faces of underage victims into videos of sexual acts, sharing them in Telegram groups, or threatening victims to obtain nude photos to produce child sexual exploitation materials.
This joint investigation was conducted at the request of Singapore under the name 'Cyber Guardian Operation.' It involved analyzing videos distributed on internet sites and social media, sharing them among countries.
In Japan, 111 individuals were arrested and charged with violations of laws prohibiting child sexual exploitation and child pornography, according to the Japanese National Police Agency.
A representative from the Korean National Police Agency noted, "Given the nature of cybercrime that spreads globally without borders, the suffering inflicted on victimized children is more severe than in any other crime," and stated, "We will continue to expand the establishment of an international cooperation network in the future."