Kim Nok-wan sentenced to life imprisonment for Telegram sexual exploitation

South Korea's Supreme Court has finalized a life sentence for Kim Nok-wan, the mastermind behind the Telegram-based sexual exploitation group known as ‘Moksa-bang’ (Pastor Room). Kim operated the group under the moniker ‘Pastor,’ assigning roles such as ‘deacon’ and ‘evangelist’ to accomplices to recruit victims, produce sexual exploitation material, and carry out threats.

The scale of the crimes is noted as one of the largest in Telegram history, involving hundreds of victims, including a significant number of minors. The court upheld the life sentence to serve as a deterrent against copycat crimes following the notorious ‘Nth Room’ and ‘Baksa-bang’ incidents.

In addition to life imprisonment, the court confirmed orders for 30 years of electronic monitoring, a 10-year employment restriction at institutions involving children, disabled persons, or minors, and a 10-year requirement for public disclosure of his personal information. While the life sentence was upheld, the court maintained the acquittal on charges of organizing a criminal group, citing insufficient evidence of a structured organization with a shared criminal purpose.