Criminal ring busted for operating illegal pornography, gambling sites from overseas

Seoul police have dismantled a criminal ring suspected of running illegal pornography and gambling websites, with the agency reporting the arrest of two key members. The suspects, aged 40 and 36, were charged with distributing child sexual exploitation materials and other offenses. The investigation targets about 10 accomplices, believed to be operating from the Philippines and other locations since August 2019.

The suspects are accused of systematically running 18 gambling websites and two pornographic sites, attracting users through child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials. In total, about 4.7 trillion won (US$3.32 billion) was wagered on the gambling sites, with profits estimated at 47.6 billion won. The 40-year-old suspect, who operated the sites in the Philippines, was arrested while trying to enter South Korea on August 2, while the 36-year-old, a computer engineering graduate, was arrested at his home on August 3.