The Supreme Court of South Korea upheld a life sentence on September 10 for Kim Nok-wan, the leader of the country’s largest known sexual exploitation ring operated via the Telegram messaging platform. Kim was convicted on 25 charges, including producing and distributing sexually exploitative material, threatening victims with the release of intimate images, illegal filming, rape, and indecent assault.
Kim headed a group called the Vigilantes from August 2020 until his arrest in January 2025. The ring targeted 261 victims, including minors, and was responsible for the creation of more than 2,000 sexually exploitative videos and images. Operating under the online alias "Pastor," Kim assigned ranks to his accomplices, such as "senior preacher," "preacher," and "preacher-in-training."
The group obtained personal information about women who posted revealing photos on social media or sought paid dates, as well as men attempting to access Telegram chat rooms featuring pornography or manipulated images of acquaintances. Victims were coerced through threats of public exposure into providing nude images or complying with other demands. In some cases, victims were summoned and sexually assaulted in person.
Along with upholding Kim’s life sentence, the Supreme Court confirmed additional restrictions should he be released. These include a 30-year obligation to wear an electronic monitoring device, a 10-year ban on working at institutions serving children, teenagers, or disabled persons, and a decade-long requirement to publicly disclose and notify the public of his personal information.
Two accomplices also had sentences upheld. One received an indeterminate juvenile sentence of between 18 months and two years, while the other was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. However, the court acquitted Kim and his accomplices of charges related to organizing, joining, or participating in a criminal group. The court found insufficient evidence that the group maintained an organized association with a shared criminal purpose, considering their structure and durations of involvement.
The appellate court condemned Kim’s actions, stating he showed no regard for human dignity. It noted the immeasurable physical and psychological suffering, humiliation, and despair inflicted upon the victims. The court described the crimes as inhumane and emphasized the necessity of a punishment proportional to their severity.