“댈구·가출 등 SNS 키워드로…성착취 위험 10대 찾아 도와요”

Social networking services such as X have become a breeding ground for posts indicating potential child sexual abuse, prompting the Central Digital and Security Agency's Cyber Outreach team to step in. Team member Kim Min-ji, who works with at-risk children and adolescents, monitors these platforms daily for signs of distressing content, sending help-seeking messages when she finds them.

Responding to these messages, she links at-risk children and adolescents to counseling and support services. The 'DM Please' posts, typically initiated by dangerous accounts, are reported to authorities. Operating since 2023, this 'cyber outreach' initiative has grown in significance as online sexual exploitation of minors has become more prevalent.

Ministry official Yang Jeong (pseudonym) told the JoongAng Ilbo on 19th that social networking services and chat apps continue to proliferate, enabling more exposure for minors to online dangers. Many children and adolescents access multiple platforms daily, exceeding 380, monitored by team members. "Chat apps allow underage users to join and even falsify ages," Yang explained, noting that reported accounts often reappear the following week.

As of 2025, the outreach team has responded to over 4,000 cases annually, with 2,557 in the first half of the year alone. Notably, 6th grader Gyang shared explicit images of himself online after persistent requests from another player in an online game, leading to unwanted dissemination. The team connects at-risk youth with counseling services for deletion and prevention.

Key warning signs include terms like 'lesbian', 'drug purchase' ('dallgu'), 'high school seniors', and 'running away', indicating potential crisis. Contacting the team is crucial, as dangerous individuals often manipulate the online space, convincing victims they are at fault. Cyber outreach team consists of three specialists, each employed on a short-term contract due to limited funding. The program runs year-round except December, relying on a small team to manage the workload.