Politics · South Korea · 1 day ago
South Korea reviews 5,034 digital sex crime cases in first eight months
South Korea’s media and communications review body handled 5,034 reviews and correction requests related to digital sex crime information online from January through August.
That was about 2.6 times the 1,959 cases recorded for all of last year.
The monthly average rose from about 163 cases last year to about 629 this year.
The body also reviewed more cases involving sexual content and prostitution, and illegal food and medicine, than it did during all of last year.
It reviews online information including gambling and other illegal or harmful content.
A lawmaker said the rise calls for a rapid response and for checks on whether reviews and follow-up steps are happening on time.
South Korea’s broadcasting and media communications review body examined and requested corrective action on 5,034 cases of online digital sex crime information from January through August.
That was about 2.6 times the 1,959 cases recorded for all of last year.
The monthly average rose from about 163 cases last year to about 629 this year.
Reviews and corrective requests for obscene and prostitution-related information also exceeded last year’s total during the first eight months.
Lawmaker Lee Yeon-hee called for a swift response and checks on whether reviews and follow-up measures are being carried out on time.
- Who
- South Korea’s Broadcasting and Media Communications Review Committee reviewed the cases. Lawmaker Lee Yeon-hee raised concerns about the figures.
- What
- The committee reviewed and requested corrective action on 5,034 cases of online digital sex crime information.
- When
- From January through August 2026.
- Where
- Online sites in South Korea.
- Why
- The committee reviews illegal or harmful online information; Lee said a swift response was needed as the case total exceeded last year’s annual figure.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A swift response is needed as reviews and corrective requests for digital sex crime information have greatly exceeded last year's annual total.
We should check whether the committee's reviews and follow-up measures are being carried out on time.
The committee recorded 5,034 reviews and corrective requests involving online digital sex crime information.
Yonhap reported the figures, citing data provided to Lee Yeon-hee’s office by the committee.
- Digital sex crime cases
- 5,034 from January through August 2026
- Comparison with 2025
- 1,959 cases for the full year
- Monthly average
- About 629 cases in 2026, compared with about 163 in 2025
- Obscene and prostitution-related information
- 15,387 cases in January–August 2026, compared with 11,484 in all of 2025
- Illegal food and medicine information
- 24,859 cases in January–August 2026, compared with 18,919 in all of 2025
Sources
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