In a landmark ruling that underscores the judiciary's stern response to digital sexual violence, a South Korean court has sentenced Kim Nok-wan (33), the operator of the Telegram sex exploitation ring known as the "Pastor's Room," to life imprisonment. The ruling, delivered by the Seoul Central District Court on November 24, 2025, concludes the first-instance trial for a case described as the largest digital sex crime in the nation's history, involving the production and distribution of sexual exploitation materials from hundreds of victims over five years.

The Severity of the Sentence 

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-kyung) handed down a life sentence to Kim Nok-wan on charges including organization and activity of a criminal group (though he was later acquitted of this specific charge), production and distribution of sexual exploitation and illegal filming materials, coercion to use illegal filming materials, and rape/quasi-rape.

In addition to the life sentence, the court imposed severe supplementary measures:

30 years of electronic ankle monitor attachment.
10 years of employment restriction in institutions related to children, adolescents, and the disabled.
10 years of public disclosure and notification of his personal information.
The court's decision reflected the exceptionally cruel and malicious nature of Kim's crimes. The presiding judge stated, "Considering these circumstances, even though Kim had no prior criminal record and settled with three victims, sentencing him to life imprisonment for permanent societal isolation is inevitable." 

The Scale and Cruelty of the 'Jagyungdan' Ring 

Kim Nok-wan's operation, active from May 2020 to January of the current year, was known as the "Jagyungdan" ( Vigilante Group), a hierarchical sexual violence crime syndicate structured like a pyramid on Telegram. Kim, who reportedly learned criminal techniques from the infamous "Nth Room" ('Baksa-bang') case operator, Cho Ju-bin, referred to himself as the "Pastor," leading the channel to be dubbed the "Pastor's Room."

The scale of the "Pastor's Room" far exceeded previous cases:

Total Victims: 234 individuals, including 159 minors (a number more than three times that of the "Baksa-bang" case).
Exploitation Materials: Approximately 2,000 sexually exploitative videos and images were produced by Kim and his co-defendants.
Modus Operandi: Kim and his accomplices continuously blackmailed victims, coerced them into performing perverse sexual acts, and even engaged in violent sexual assault. The court highlighted Kim's particularly egregious actions, such as sending the victim's sexual videos to her father through an accomplice and even visiting a victim's workplace to threaten her. 

The Indelible Harm of Digital Sex Crime 

The court emphasized the unique and irreversible nature of digital sex crimes, which was a core factor in the severity of the sentence.

"Digital sex crime's damage is instantaneously and irreversibly magnified through the digital space. Once the sexual exploitation materials are distributed, it is physically difficult to completely delete them, making victim recovery virtually impossible."
The court noted that most of the victims were children and adolescents, who would have suffered extreme physical and psychological distress.  

The Roles of Accomplices and Key Acquittals 

The court also handed down sentences to the group's key accomplices, who were recruited and educated by Kim, operating with titles like "Senior Pastor" and "Evangelist" in the "Jagyungdan" hierarchy:

All eight members who carried out Kim's instructions received prison terms, including the five minors involved, who received juvenile sentencing (minimum/maximum term sentencing).

Crucially, the court acquitted Kim and his accomplices of the charge of organization and activity of a criminal group. The court reasoned that the other defendants appeared to have joined the criminal acts due to Kim's coercion and threats, making it difficult to establish that they formed a "continuous association established for the common goal of committing crimes," thus falling short of the legal standard for a criminal organization.

Furthermore, Kim was acquitted of the charge of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse (provision and distribution of sexual exploitation materials). This acquittal was based on the fact that some of the videos produced and distributed were edited composites, featuring the faces of children/adolescents synthesized onto the nude bodies of unidentified women. The court ruled that these edited materials could not be definitively recognized as sexual exploitation materials featuring actual children or adolescents based on their overall appearance and physical development. 

The Ongoing Fight Against Digital Sexual Exploitation 

The "Pastor's Room" case has reignited national scrutiny into the efficacy of current laws against digital sexual violence and the need for stronger international cooperation to combat crimes leveraging the anonymity of global platforms like Telegram. The public and victims' rights advocates are now closely watching the appeals process, hoping that the most severe parts of the sentence will be upheld, particularly given the unprecedented scale of the abuse.

While the acquittal on the specific charge of criminal organization and the technical acquittal regarding the composite videos drew mixed reactions—highlighting the legal complexities in prosecuting digitally modified exploitation—the overwhelming public sentiment supports the life sentence, viewing it as a clear message that such heinous crimes will be met with the highest penalty possible. The case serves as a grave reminder that while digital platforms offer convenience, they also provide a powerful, anonymous tool for predators, necessitating continuous legislative and judicial vigilance.

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