Illegal Streaming Operator Receives Harsher Sentence on Appeal in South Korea
DAEJEON, SOUTH KOREA – An operator of the illegal streaming service Nunu TV has received an increased prison sentence following an appeal, highlighting South Korea’s escalating crackdown on online copyright infringement. The appellate court strengthened the original ruling,citing the operator’s repeated offenses and refined attempts to evade law enforcement.
The case underscores the growing legal risks associated with illicit streaming platforms and the significant financial impact on content creators.Copyright holders and broadcasters are increasingly pursuing legal action against those facilitating unauthorized access to copyrighted material, seeking both financial compensation and deterrent sentences. This ruling signals a commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and discouraging future offenses in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The individual, identified as Mr. A,initially received a three-year prison sentence from the frist trial court. The court emphasized the crime’s detrimental effect on the creative industry, stating it “not only infringes on the copyright holder’s ability to generate profits, but also reduces the motivation to create, ultimately hindering cultural development.”
During the inquiry, authorities discovered mr. A employed multiple virtual private networks (VPNs), overseas credit cards, and virtual asset exchanges located abroad to conceal his activities and avoid tracking. The appellate court acknowledged the complexity of the operation and the operator’s attempts to obstruct justice.
while the appellate court reduced some of the initial fines, it ultimately increased the overall sentence. The court accepted Mr. A’s argument that some of the initially calculated criminal proceeds may have been commingled with funds from an accomplice’s separate website. Consequently, the additional fine was adjusted to 374.7 million won, after deducting confiscated assets.
Though, the court strongly rebuked Mr.A’s history of criminal activity, noting prior convictions related to sports gambling sites and the distribution of pornography. The ruling stated, “despite having previously been sentenced to prison… he committed this crime, and when the investigation began, the means, methods, and period of the crime became increasingly severe, such as closing the site and opening another site.”
The court concluded that a more severe punishment was necessary to prevent recidivism and to address the victim broadcaster’s plea for a harsher sentence, deeming the original sentence “too light.”
The case was reported by TJB Daejeon Broadcasting, with photos provided by Yonhap News. Reporter Kim Geon-kyo (kkkim@tjb.co.kr) covered the proceedings.
