Eight sent to prosecutors over YouTube scheme that allegedly earned 3.745 billion won from unauthorized drama and film edits

A South Korean YouTube operation allegedly turned copyrighted dramas and films into short videos, earning 3.745 billion won before police referred eight people and one company to prosecutors.

Yangsan Police said the group edited content from seven media companies, including the country’s three terrestrial broadcasters, and uploaded it across 26 channels. The videos reduced two-hour dramas and films to 10 or 15 minutes while revealing their endings, a format investigators said was used to attract views.

The alleged operator, a man in his 30s, began uploading videos that summarized entire films in 2019. He established a company in 2023 and expanded the operation, according to police.

When copyright complaints led to a channel being blocked, the group allegedly continued by uploading the material to replacement channels. Police said they cross-checked corporate bank accounts and internal settlement documents after searches and data analysis.

The investigation identified 3.745 billion won in alleged illicit profits over roughly 20 months, from August 2024 through April 2026. Police applied on the 26th for preservation of the money before indictment and said they would respond firmly to organized and repeated intellectual-property violations.

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We will continue to respond firmly to organized and habitual violations of intellectual property rights.