South Korea blocks thousands of social media posts for sex trafficking and illegal debt collection

South Korea's Media Rating and Communications Review Committee (MRC) has taken decisive action against illegal online activities, ordering the blocking of thousands of posts circulating on social media platforms. The committee's telecommunications review subcommittee convened on June 29th to address content related to sex trafficking and predatory debt collection.

In a significant move against online sex trafficking, the MRC ordered the blocking of 1,887 posts. These posts were found to be facilitating or inducing sex trafficking through social media direct messages, often employing euphemisms, prices, and locations. The committee noted that this included 250 instances of content aimed at luring minors into sex work, sometimes by offering to purchase items like cigarettes on their behalf.

Furthermore, the committee targeted illegal debt collection practices, ordering the blocking of 143 posts. These posts involved the public exposure of debtors' faces and personal information on social media, often accompanied by defamatory content. Investigations revealed that illegal lenders were providing extremely short-term loans, as small as 400,000 won, and requiring borrowers to agree to have their debt publicized on social media if they defaulted. In cases of default, debtors' real names, faces, and private lives were subsequently exposed, leading to severe personal and reputational harm.

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We will continue to monitor social media to ensure it is not used as a channel for the distribution of sex trafficking, and we will apply a zero-tolerance principle and respond swiftly and strictly to irregular information that preys on the vulnerabilities of minors.

The MRC's actions were prompted by requests from various authorities, including the Financial Supervisory Service and police departments in Busan and Ulsan. The committee emphasized its commitment to continuously monitoring social media to prevent its misuse for illegal activities. It vowed to apply a zero-tolerance policy towards deceptive tactics targeting vulnerable groups, particularly minors, and to respond swiftly and rigorously.

For victims of illegal financial practices, the MRC urged them to report incidents immediately to relevant agencies such as the committee, the police, or the Financial Supervisory Service. The committee stressed the importance of seeking help from these institutions without delay.

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If you have been victimized, please report it to relevant agencies such as the Media Rating and Communications Review Committee, the police, or the Financial Supervisory Service without delay and request assistance.