According to SBS on the 3rd, the network collaborated with the Nantong Public Security Bureau in China and the Korean Copyright Commission's China office to combat copyright infringement by 'Laowangkanju,' which had been illegally distributing Korean content since May of last year. The efforts led to the operator being criminally charged, and a Chinese court recently ordered the site to be shut down, sentencing the operator to 1 year and 8 months in prison, suspended for 2 years, along with a fine.
'Laowangkanju' was an illegal site that profited through a paid membership model, hosting its servers in Hong Kong. The operator uploaded Korean shows, allowing users to watch parts of the content for free, but provided full access only to paying members via cloud links. This site illegally distributed popular SBS dramas like 'The Escape of the Seven,' 'Dr. Romantic,' 'Taxi Driver,' and 'Revenant,' generating illicit profits.
SBS stated, "As we prepare for the lifting of the long-standing Korean Wave ban and the opening of the Chinese market, we will intensify our crackdown on illegal sites in China. Continuous government support and cooperation are crucial to ensure this is not just a one-time success."
Meanwhile, China designated Korea as a visa-free country last November, and fan events for groups like TWICE and IVE in February and March have fueled optimism about the lifting of the Korean Wave ban.
[Photo: Screenshots of the illegal site 'Laowangkanju']
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)