A life sentence has been finalized for Kim Nok-wan (34), who served as the ringleader of "Jagyeongdan," an online-based sexual violence group responsible for causing the largest number of victims in history.

The Supreme Court's Second Division (Presiding Justice Kwon Young-jun) upheld the lower court's ruling against Kim, who was indicted on charges including violations of the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse (production of sexual exploitation materials, etc.), the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (filing using cameras, etc.), the Child Welfare Act, forcible indecent act, and rape.

The court also maintained orders for 30 years of electronic monitoring, 10 years of employment restriction at institutions related to children, juveniles, and persons with disabilities, and 10 years of public disclosure and notification of personal information.

Kim was convicted on 25 separate criminal counts, though charges related to the organization and activities of a criminal syndicate were acquitted in the second trial.

Two accomplices prosecuted and tried by the Supreme Court for participating in the crimes under the alias "Jeondosa" (evangelist) received finalized sentences of a maximum of 2 years and a minimum of 1 year and 6 months in prison, and 2 years and 6 months in prison, respectively.

Kim was indicted and detained in February of last year on charges of organizing "Jagyeongdan"—the largest-scale cyber sexual violence group in the country—from August 2020 to January of last year, styling himself as a "pastor," sadistically and perversely sexually assaulting minors, and producing and distributing sexual exploitation materials.

Jagyeongdan was a group that targeted women who posted photos of their bodies on social media or engaged in conditional meetings, as well as men attempting to enter Telegram "pornography rooms" or "acquaintance humiliation rooms." After acquiring their personal information, the group threatened to expose them to extract nude photos, produced and distributed sexual exploitation materials, and actually lured some victims out to sexually assault them.

The number of victims reached 261, which is more than three times that of the similar Telegram "Baksa-bang" case (73 victims).

The sexual exploitation materials produced by Kim and his gang amount to approximately 2,000 items.

The first instance court sentenced Kim to life imprisonment in November of last year.

Ten other co-defendants who were indicted for participating as "senior evangelists," "evangelists," or "preparatory evangelists" to direct crimes, scout victims, and produce and distribute sexual exploitation materials were sentenced to prison terms or suspended prison terms, respectively.

However, the charges of joining and operating a criminal organization against the defendants were ruled not guilty.

The court reasoned that because the other defendants participated under coercion and threats from Kim, considering the circumstances of their participation, duration, and criminal structure, "Jagyeongdan" could not be viewed as a continuous union formed for the joint purpose of committing crimes.

The Supreme Court stated, "Even taking into consideration the extenuating circumstances argued in the grounds for appeal, sentencing him to life imprisonment cannot be deemed grossly unfair."

Cho (36), a woman who operated as an "evangelist" within Jagyeongdan, had her 5-year prison sentence finalized by the Supreme Court in June.

(Photo: Yonhap News)