Sexually degrading text alongside high school daughter's photo... Told to visit on a weekday after calling 112

Post removed after Ms. A filed a request with the KCSC
Views rose by 30,000 before the post was taken down

A mother who saw a post featuring a photo of her high school-aged daughter alongside sexually degrading text called 112 to report it, but was asked to visit on a weekday to file a report. The mother eventually asked the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) to remove the post, and its views rose from 70,000 to 100,000 before it was taken down.

According to an SBS report on November 10, Ms. A received a message from her high school-aged daughter on the afternoon of November 7 saying that several photos of her had been posted on social media. The post reportedly included sexually explicit content alongside the photos.

Ms. A said, "The content was shocking." Worried that the photos might spread further, she immediately called 112, but said she was told to visit during weekday business hours, from 9 a.m., to file a report about the cybercrime-related matter.

A said he found a post with sexual messages alongside a photo of his daughter and called 112, but was told to file a report on a weekday. Screenshot from an SBS broadcast.

Ms. A eventually looked up the phone number for the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Cyber Investigation Unit's duty office herself and called. The officer on duty who answered reportedly requested that the post be removed and said the process could take as little as one day.

Not knowing how the removal request was being handled, Ms. A submitted a request directly through the KCSC website. She said that, while speaking with the KCSC, she was told that the police-initiated removal process was not underway. According to Ms. A, a KCSC official said, in effect, "It's difficult to get in touch with the police right now. We'll first handle the case you submitted."

The post was taken down following Ms. A's removal request. Ms. A lamented, "When I first called 112 to report it, I wish they had at least given me the Cyber Investigation Unit duty office's number," adding that the post's view count had risen by 30,000 by the time it was reviewed and removed.

Police initially told SBS that "112 provided the Cyber Investigation Unit duty office's contact information," but later corrected their statement, saying, "It is true that the victim's side looked up the number and contacted the unit directly." Police added that they had also asked the social media platform X to remove the post.

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