Operator of illegal manga site extradited to South Korea from Japan

In a landmark move, South Korea has successfully extradited a Japanese national, identified only as 'A', who allegedly ran a popular illegal manga-sharing website. This marks the first extradition of a foreign national from Japan to South Korea under their 2002 bilateral treaty on criminal extradition.

Authorities accuse 'A', who reportedly became a Japanese citizen in 2022 after moving there in 2017, of operating the illegal site from 2015 to 2022. During this period, the site allegedly hosted over 1,400 copyrighted manga titles, including popular series like 'Slam Dunk,' 'One Piece,' and 'Detective Conan.' The site also reportedly featured advertisements for gambling websites, generating illicit profits.

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This extradition is a significant turning point, confirming judicial responsibility for long-term illegal webtoon distribution crimes. We express our deep gratitude to the investigative authorities, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Japanese government for their cooperation, which has resulted in this repatriation through prolonged investigation and international collaboration.

The content industry estimates staggering losses due to 'A's alleged operation. The total annual damage to the content sector is estimated at 597.6 billion won (approximately $430 million USD), with the webtoon industry alone suffering an estimated 477.6 billion won in losses. Projections suggest the total damage to the webtoon and web novel industries could reach at least 4.78 trillion won ($3.5 billion USD) between March 2018 and April 2026.

Officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlighted the extensive collaboration between South Korean and Japanese authorities, including virtual meetings and detailed information sharing, to facilitate the extradition. They stressed that this successful operation underscores the critical role of inter-agency cooperation and international partnerships in tackling sophisticated online copyright crimes and protecting the burgeoning K-content industry.

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This extradition demonstrates how crucial the role of organic cooperation among relevant agencies and international collaboration is in responding to online copyright crimes. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will fulfill its role as a guardian of K-content.