hankyoreh

Shin Jin-hee, a state-appointed attorney for victims of sex crimes, speaks to the Hankyoreh at her office in Seoul Boramae Hospital, Dongjak District, on Aug. 27, 2024. (Kim Bong-gyu/Hankyoreh)

“The victims of digital sex crimes I’ve met have said, ‘I don’t think it’s going to stop even after I’m dead.’ When victims die, the illegal [pornography] ends up circulated even more and gets referred to as their ‘posthumous work.’”

Shin Jin-hee is a state-appointed attorney for victims of digital sex crimes who has assisted, among others, victims in the 2020 “Nth Room” case.

In her view, the first key to dealing with digital sex crimes involves understanding their specific nature. Specifically, she stresses the point that while they may differ outwardly from physical crimes such as rape, they are not “lesser” in terms of the extent of victimization.

Meeting with the Hankyoreh on Tuesday in her office in Seoul’s Dongjak District, Shin emphasized, “Digital sex crimes are very different in nature.”

“Once a perpetrator uploads an illegal deepfake, it circulates rapidly, and everyone who views it becomes a criminal. It gets circulated and recirculated, so the victimization never ends,” she explained.

She added that because the nature of digital sex crimes is such that it can be impossible to determine which or how many perpetrators are involved, the suffering experienced by victims can sometimes be even worse than that of victims in sexual crimes involving physical contact.

The perceptions of investigative authorities and courts remain unchanged.

“There’s still the attitude that the only serious crimes are ones that involve [direct] violation of the body, and that things that happen on information networks do not constitute direct victimization,” Shin said.

“Despite the gravity of the outcomes, there are no regulations for suitable punishment, and the sentences are very light,” she added.

While attitudes toward digital sex crimes change gradually, the technology is advancing by the day. Shin observed that “it can be impossible for a third party who views it to distinguish whether something was faked.”

She also emphasized the need for victims to receive the assistance of an attorney from the time of the first interview following their report.

“At the time victims report [crimes], they are typically in a state of panic, so that might necessitate more explanation and consideration concerning the investigation process,” she suggested. 

“If state-appointed attorneys intervene early on in the process, they can get a better grasp of the case and provide ample explanations regarding the specific nature of digital sex crimes as well as provide counseling,” she emphasized. 

The Ministry of Justice launched its state-appointed attorney system for crime victims in 2012. The system provides legal support free of charge to victims of certain offenses, including sexual violence and child abuse.  

By Lee Ji-hye, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]