Dong-A Ilbo launches interactive experience tracing laundered money

Dong-A Ilbo's Hero Contents team has launched an interactive digital experience, 'Hidden: Can You Recover 50 Million Won?', allowing users to step into the shoes of a fraud victim and track laundered money. The experience is built upon an extensive investigation into 'ghost accounts' – bank accounts used for illicit purposes – which are created at an alarming rate in South Korea, with 320,000 new ones appearing annually.

The investigation, spanning five months, analyzed 126,866 ghost accounts and involved interviews with 58 individuals, including crime syndicate members, victims, and law enforcement officials. This deep dive uncovered the intricate structure of how these accounts are created, distributed, and ultimately abandoned after facilitating crimes like voice phishing, investment fraud, and online gambling.

Users navigate through a simulated investigation, starting with a fictional transfer of 50 million won to an account named 'Hanguk First.' They then follow the money trail through virtual offices, police stations, and banks, encountering the same obstacles faced by real victims. The interactive content uses evidence such as customer service chat logs, bank deposit records, and business registration documents to guide the user.

'Hidden' also educates users about systemic loopholes, explaining how virtual offices can serve as addresses for shell companies and how a single ghost account can be repeatedly used across different criminal activities. The experience prompts users to make choices, such as requesting account freezes or consulting lawyers, to understand the effectiveness of these actions in recovering lost funds and the potential of civil lawsuits as a final recourse.

This interactive project is part of Dong-A Ilbo's 'Hero Contents' initiative, launched in 2020 to mark its centenary, aiming to blend journalistic values with digital technology. Previous works include 'Hunt: Dementia Money Hunt,' showcasing the publication's commitment to innovative digital storytelling.