Messages from an unidentified Hong Kong-based KakaoTalk account threaten the victim with the release of explicit photos. The images were originally provided to a man under investigation for allegedly assaulting a female streamer as part of an online event prize. Courtesy of the victim
A man in his 30s, identified only by his surname Kim, is under police investigation on suspicion of sexually assaulting a female online streamer and threatening to distribute intimate images of her, authorities said.
According to police on April 17, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station is investigating Kim — reportedly known as the brother of a member of a well-known girl group — along with an acquaintance, identified as A, on charges including indecent assault and violations of the sexual violence punishment law involving threats using illicitly obtained images and distribution of such material.
The victim, identified as B, said in her complaint that Kim received photos of her body, shared them with a third party, and then threatened to distribute the images. Police said they had applied for an arrest warrant for Kim the same day.
The case began on April 12 during an event hosted by B on the online streaming platform SOOP. During the broadcast, B offered prizes such as a dinner date and selfies through a lottery-style promotion, with each entry costing about 10,000 won ($7.30). Kim reportedly purchased 500 entries at once, winning first place and receiving the dinner date along with photos sent via KakaoTalk.
Kim later met B for dinner at a restaurant in Seoul’s Gangnam District on April 14. After the meal, Kim suggested continuing the evening at his home, saying it was only a five-minute walk away. B said she repeatedly expressed refusal of any physical contact, to which Kim promised, “I won’t touch you.” However, police said Kim later changed his behavior and forcibly engaged in inappropriate physical contact. Kim has acknowledged physical contact but said “there was no coercion,” denying the allegations.
B also said that between 1:42 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on April 17, she received messages from an unidentified KakaoTalk account based in Hong Kong that included her photos along with a greeting. When she asked about the source of the images, the account responded with threatening messages such as “the photos will be released soon” and “take action before they spread online.” When she pleaded for the images not to be distributed, the account replied mockingly, “Your parents must be heartbroken.”
B suspects that the account belongs to Kim’s acquaintance A. She said that Kim could not have sent the messages himself because he was detained at the time and did not have access to his phone, raising the possibility that the threats were carried out in coordination.
Messages show the victim seeking help from her manager after taking refuge in a bathroom at the suspect’s home in Seoul’s Gangnam District on Monday. Courtesy of the victim
The victim reportedly suffered severe psychological distress following the alleged assault and subsequent threats and received emergency medical treatment. Messages she sent to her manager during the incident showed the urgency of the situation. According to police-obtained records, B entered the bathroom under the pretense of washing up, turned on the water to mask noise, and sent messages such as “He won’t let me leave,” and “I think he might kill me, please help.”
Source: Korea Times News
