SEOUL – Two Korean nationals have been apprehended for allegedly running illegal video streaming platforms in Vietnam, distributing copyrighted Korean content and earning substantial profits, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Monday.

The ministry’s copyright crime investigation team, working in collaboration with the National Police Agency, Interpol, and the Korea Copyright Protection Agency’s Vietnam office, identified the suspects in September 2024. The individuals are accused of operating platforms such as PickleTV and TV Champ, which illegally distributed Korean dramas, movies, and other content.

“This is the result of the Interpol Stop Online Piracy (I-SOP) international joint investigation,” the ministry stated. “Through our agreement with the National Police Agency and Interpol, we are actively cracking down on copyright violations of Korean content.”

The investigation revealed that the suspects operated the illegal sites from April 2022 to July 2024, distributing 32,124 video works sourced from major global streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+. They reportedly generated approximately 400 million won ($275,237) in illegal profits through Google advertisements.

To evade detection, the suspects established a company in Vietnam, hired local developers and personnel managers, and utilized overseas servers in third countries. They also employed a U.S. content delivery network service to mask their illegal activities as a legitimate business.

One suspect was apprehended at Incheon International Airport in December after being denied entry into Thailand. The second suspect voluntarily surrendered to authorities.

“This arrest is an example of how the increasingly sophisticated and intelligent illegal distribution of K-content can be detected through international cooperation and persistent tracking,” said Jung Hyang-mi, director-general of the ministry’s copyright bureau. “We will continue to strengthen international cooperation for K-content protection, such as starting the second I-SOP project this year in collaboration with the National Police Agency and Interpol.”

This arrest comes amidst the Korean government's ongoing efforts to combat online piracy. Last November, the operator of the illegal streaming site Noonoo TV, which generated hundreds of billions of won in illicit revenue, was arrested and indicted. Despite being shut down twice, Noonoo TV had repeatedly resumed operations by relocating servers and changing domain names, highlighting the challenges in curbing sophisticated piracy networks.

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