The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST), the Economic Crime Investigation Division under the Investigation Bureau of the National Office of Investigation, which is part of the Korean National Police Agency (Commissioner General CHO Ji Ho, KNPA); and the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) jointly crack down on websites that violate copyright from August 19 (Mon) to the end of December.

The joint crackdown on websites that engage in copyright infringement is one of the key tasks of the "Measures against Illegal Distribution of K-Content" announced by related ministries under the direction of President YOON Suk Yeol last year, and is the driving force behind implementation of the national task of "Spreading the Charm of K-Content to the World."

In 2023, the operators of seven websites for illegally distributing films, videos and the operator of one website for webtoons, as well as the operators of an illegal IPTV service in Indonesia arrested

Since 2018, MCST and KNPA have engaged in joint actions against online copyright infringement, cracking down on a total of 211 websites and arresting 99 people (detaining 12). Last year, the joint crackdown achieved great results including arresting the operators of seven films, video and webtoon sites and closing eight sites. Through international cooperation with Indonesian investigation agencies, they simultaneously conducted searches and seizures, arresting and detaining, in both Indonesia and Korea, the operators of an illegal IPTV service group (which served only Indonesia) that was using copyrighted material without authorization.

Intensive crackdown on sites that use, without permission, copyrighted media to draw people to visit illegal gambling and adult sites

Strong responses such as cleaning up illegal site-operating organizations, confiscating criminal proceeds and collecting equivalent value for what cannot be recovered

This year, the intensive crackdown is targeted at large-scale sites that cause great damage to the copyright industry and require significant response. These targeted websites are large, have servers overseas to avoid punishment by investigation agencies, and post dozens of advertising banners about illegal gambling and adult content. They lure users to access illegal gambling and adult sites by baiting with illegally-distributed content.

Such site operators are economic criminals who deprive creators of their legitimate profits, threaten the ecosystem of the K-content industry, and share with accomplices the criminal proceeds they gain related to illegal gambling and adult content, together serving as a network of cybercrime.

To cooperate and investigate organically, MCST and KNPA have formed a joint crackdown team with MCST’s Copyright Infringement Forensics Team and excellent investigative personnel from provincial and municipal police agencies under KNPA. They also maintain channels for close international cooperation with Interpol. In particular, when identifying other illegal actions such as cyber gambling and sexual crimes during the crackdown, they will conduct related investigations—or transfer the investigations to agencies related to each type of crime—thereby wiping out organizations that operate websites that infringe on copyright and cause damage both at home and abroad. These agencies will also confiscate criminal proceeds and collect equivalent value for proceeds that have been gained but cannot be collected.

"Through active cooperation with KNPA, we will investigate illegal K-content distribution and end criminal proceeds to facilitate fair distribution in the online content market. This will contribute to the fair distribution of K-content along with development of the global content industry," said JUNG Hyang Mi, Director-General of the Copyright Bureau at MCST.

KIM Byeong Chan, head of the Investigation Bureau at KNPA stated, "Considering the circumstances where websites engaging in copyright infringement are connected to such crimes as illegal gambling, phishing, and pornography, MCST and KNPA are working closely not only with each other but also with investigation agencies in Interpol-member countries around the world to put an end to online copyright crimes. To this end, we are committed to working ever harder."