South Korea Sees Huge Spike In Digital Sex Crimes In 2023

According to an anti-digital sex crime organization in South Korea, over 240,000 illegally produced and distributed sexual photos and videos were deleted in 2023 alone. The figure is almost eight times higher than last year.

Image used for illustrative purposes only | *The Korea Times*

Data from the Digital Sex Crime Victims Support Center, affiliated with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, showed that a total of 243,855 such illegal content were deleted between January and December 20 this year. In 2022, the number was 30,855, and in 2021, it was around 169,000. Between 2021 and 2023, only 2022 saw a dip in the reported numbers, which have steadily increased since 2018, when the number of illegal pictures and videos was reported to be 28,000.

The exponential spike in the numbers has highlighted a concerning fact that more people in the country are becoming victims of digital sex crimes. Another disturbing discovery was that out of all the content removed this year, 52,000 were suspected of child pornography.

The victim support center also teamed up with overseas portal operators and related legal agencies to take down around 27,000 items from illegal websites managed by foreign entities.

The government’s planned action against the rising digital sex crimes in the country seems to be focused on providing aid to victims rather than prevention. The Gender Ministry has said it would increase the number of regional counseling centers that can provide specialized and in-depth counseling, as well as medical and legal services to victims of such crimes. There are currently ten such centers in existence, and the ministry plans to open four more.

(The ministry) will continue to promptly remove any illegally produced and distributed photos and videos and do its best to help victims of digital sexual crimes recover from their damages.

— Choi Sung Ji, head of the Women’s and Youth RIghts Promotion Bureau, Gender Ministry