Over the encrypted messaging app Telegram, Cho had been running multilevel chat rooms exploiting underage women in lewd and violent sexual acts for paying patrons to view. If clients paid more, they could enter a higher tier room that is said to have contained hidden camera footage of celebrities and idols.
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According to Allkpop, Cho claimed responsibility for the hidden spy cams discovered in the rooms of actress Shin Se-kyung and Apink member Bomi’s rooms while filming for variety show Pocha Beyond Borders back in 2018. However, his claims remain unconfirmed.
When news of Cho’s identity broke, fans discovered he had also been following many famous Korean celebrities on Instagram – and their followers quickly took action to warn them about it.
According to Soompi, celebrities received direct messages from concerned fans, prompting them to block Cho on their accounts. Television personality and announcer Shin Ah-young, who was warned by a former student, said on her Instagram: “If I feel like I’m going crazy just by knowing that he was following me, how would those young girls who were directly victimised by him feel?”
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KBS weather forecaster Shin Ye-ji also announced she blocked Cho, and said: “I agree that strong measures must be taken to severely punish the criminals and also prevent a crime like this from occurring again.”
Actress Lee Da-in, who starred in Entourage, Hwarang and recently, Doctor Prisoner, thanked fans who told her about him. “I’m very grateful to the people who have sent me direct messages out of concern.” Singer and actress Kim Ye-won of the drama What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?, also thanked her followers for warning her.
Former Momoland member Yeonwoo reminded Instagram fans to “Be careful”, assuring them that she also blocked him. Brown Eyed Girls' Gain posted a screenshot to show she blocked Cho from her account.
As Korean citizens petitioned to reveal the names and faces of all the other users involved in the chat room, celebrities have stepped forward to encourage citizens to sign the petition, which has more than 2.7 million signatures (at time of writing).
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Another Soompi report details the celebrities who have used their platform to spread awareness.
Former Wonder Girls member Hyerim said on her Instagram: “All of you who were in the chat rooms are perpetrators.” Urging followers to sign the petition, Girl’s Day members Hyeri and Sojin have called for a strict investigation and tough measures to be put in place for all chat room members. Exid’s LE posted a screenshot of the petition, urging fans to sign it.
Actress Moon Ga-young who currently stars in Find Me in Your Memory, as well as actress Jung Ryeo-won of the hit drama My Name is Kim Sam Soon, have also spoken out against the Nth Room members.
But it isn’t just female stars who are upset about the incident. Male idols and actors have also called for the chat room members’ identities to be revealed. 2PM’s Junho said although he prefers to keep his account full of positive news, he has decided to speak out to bring more awareness on the issue and prevent the same incident from happening.
Itaewon Class actor Ahn Bo-hyun and music artists Eric Nam, Exo’s Baekhyun and Chanyeol, former Infinite member Hoya, CNBLUE's Jung Yong-hwa and Vixx’s Ravi also spoke out on the issue.
However Allkpop reported Korean rapper Simba Zawadi is against revealing the identities of the chat room’s almost 300,000 members. His alternative point of view drew hate and criticism from people on the internet.
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Following last year’s Burning Sun sex scandal, South Korea’s own #MeToo crisis has long involved other digital sex crimes through spy cameras, sexual abuse, violence, pornography and exploitation of young women, revealing how gender inequality and the maltreatment and disregard for women remain a deeply-rooted problem.
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