"540,000 Members for 'Share Your Girlfriend, Wife'... Eight Indicted in Illegal Recording Site Case"

Police Book Eight AVMOV Operators

The police are accelerating their investigation into the online site 'AVMOV,' which distributed illegal footage targeting family members, partners, and others. They have identified eight members of the site's management team.

Identities of Eight Operators Confirmed... Police Begin Compulsory Investigation

According to Yonhap News on April 6, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced during a regular press briefing that it had identified eight suspects from the AVMOV site's management team and booked them on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

Last month, the police executed search and seizure warrants for the residences and other locations of four of these individuals, securing and currently analyzing evidence such as computers. Another member is expected to be subject to a compulsory investigation soon. Once the analysis of the seized evidence is complete, the police plan to summon these individuals for questioning regarding specific charges.

The remaining three suspects have been confirmed to have left the country and are currently staying overseas. The police are taking diplomatic measures, such as invalidating their passports, to encourage their return to Korea.

Previously, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency detected this site during its internal monitoring in December 2025 and launched a preliminary investigation. The site, established in August 2022, had approximately 540,000 members, and investigations revealed that users shared secretly recorded videos of acquaintances or partners, or downloaded illegal footage using points purchased for a fee.

The site is currently blocked and inaccessible.

Image to aid understanding of the article. Photo by Yonhap News

Can Watching Alone Be Punishable?

Can simply viewing illegal footage posted online be subject to punishment? Investigative authorities and the legal community cite "intent" as the main criterion for determining criminal liability.

If someone watches illegal footage involving adults or child and youth sexual exploitation material fully aware that it is unlawful, they are subject to criminal charges. In this context, "intent" includes both direct and conditional intent. Even if one is not completely certain that a video is illegal, if they recognize the possibility and still choose to watch it, the charge is established.

For example, in the case of child and youth sexual exploitation material, investigative agencies determine intent by considering factors such as the video's title, thumbnail, appearance of the individuals, dialogue, and clothing.

For illegal footage, authorities assess whether viewers could recognize that the video was produced or distributed without the consent of those appearing in it, based on the content and nature of the video. Even if the victim in the footage consented to being filmed, if they did not consent to the posting, it is still considered illegal footage.

The level of punishment depends on the specific illegal elements present in the video viewed. Article 11, Paragraph 5 of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sexual Offenses stipulates that those who intentionally possess or watch child and youth sexual exploitation material shall be sentenced to at least one year in prison. Only imprisonment is specified by law, with no option for a fine, making the punishment more severe than for other charges.

If illegal footage involving adults is viewed, Article 14-4 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes allows for up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Deepfake sexual exploitation material is also subject to criminal charges if viewed intentionally. The revised Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, effective October 2024, stipulates that possession, purchase, storage, or viewing of false videos such as deepfake sexual exploitation material is punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.