"Combating Cross-Border Content Piracy" Korea and Thailand Join Forces for Copyright Protection

Illegal Distribution Organization of 8 Channels and 426 Broadcasts Dismantled

Establishing a Systematic Cooperation Framework for Enforcement Operations Against Copyright Infringement

In order to eradicate transnational copyright infringement crimes targeting K-content, investigative authorities in Korea and Thailand are establishing a collaborative system.

International Joint Operation to Eliminate Southeast Asia-Based Illegal Streaming Organization / Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will sign a “Cooperation Agreement on Copyright Protection” with the Central Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on September 8, 2026. The agreement covers cooperation in the enforcement of laws responding to copyright infringement, sharing criminal investigation information, and jointly promoting protection systems and awareness-raising policies.

The background to this agreement is an international joint operation that dismantled an illegal streaming organization based in Southeast Asia, which caused damages amounting to KRW 35 billion. In February 2026, the Ministry, in cooperation with the National Police Agency, INTERPOL, the Royal Thai Police, the Royal Malaysia Police, and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, uncovered an IPTV operation that had illegally distributed content from eight Korean channels such as tvN, KBS World, and Spotv, as well as 426 global live broadcast channels and over 8,000 video-on-demand titles in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia since 2015.

The investigation team conducted raids at residences and offices in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Selangor, Malaysia, securing four suspects: one Thai national and three Malaysian nationals. Of these, two Malaysians and one Thai suspect were indicted, with criminal charges proven and the suspects turned over to local courts.

International Joint Operation to Eradicate Southeast Asia-Based Illegal Streaming Organization / Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The government will use the INTERPOL cooperative network to block the illegal cross-border distribution of content. Plans are in place to expand cooperation with international investigative agencies through dedicated liaison officers assigned to INTERPOL.

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