 |
| ▲ The head of Pickle TV is arrested at Incheon Airport by the South Korean police. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean nationals who operated illegal streaming websites that infringed on copyright laws in Vietnam have been indicted, culture ministry said on Monday.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 10th, the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office indicted individuals A and B on January 21 on charges of operating illegal streaming sites such as "Pickle TV" and "TV Champ." They have been detained and are facing trial at the Daejeon District Court.
The two are accused of distributing 32,124 pieces of content, including domestic productions as well as videos from global streaming platforms such as Netflix and Disney+, through their illegal streaming sites from April 2022 to July last year. They allegedly earned approximately 400 million won in illicit profits in violation of copyright laws.
 |
| ▲ This image is captured from the TV Champ Website in this photo provided by the South Korean culture ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Investigations revealed that in an effort to evade South Korean authorities, the suspects established a corporate entity in Vietnam and hired local developers and personnel managers. They also used aliases when registering domain names for their illegal sites, frequently deleted personal information, and utilized virtual private networks (VPNs) and foreign credit cards to avoid detection.
The Copyright Crime Forensic Investigation Unit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which had been tracking "Pickle TV" and other illegal sites, identified A and B last September and requested an Interpol Red Notice for their arrest. A was apprehended at Incheon Airport late last December while attempting to enter Thailand, while B voluntarily turned himself in earlier last month. Both were subsequently transferred to the prosecution while in custody.
Jeong Hyang-mi, director of the Copyright Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "This case demonstrates that, despite increasingly sophisticated and intelligent methods of illegal distribution, persistent investigation and international cooperation can successfully lead to arrests. We will continue strengthening global partnerships to protect K-content."
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
