Social media scandal: South Korea men share illicit family photos

A South Korean user on the X social media platform issued a dire warning about secret chat rooms where men share illicit photos of their mothers, sisters, and other women in their lives. The scandal ignited a firestorm on social media.

These chat rooms, operating on the Telegram app, include disturbing images taken without consent. Photos are often taken while the women are asleep or, in some instances, drugged.

The victims aren’t limited to family members but also include colleagues and classmates. As the post went viral, numerous South Korean women came forward to share their experiences of being secretly photographed by male relatives. Some were captured changing clothes, while others were photographed sleeping.

The situation is exacerbated by the dismissive attitude of many parents when informed about these incidents. Some parents downplay the severity, blame the victims, or force reconciliation, ignoring the emotional trauma inflicted.

This is not the first time South Korea has been rocked by such scandals. In 2020, the infamous Nth Room case, which involved the sharing of explicit and violent content in chat rooms, made headlines. The current situation bears a troubling resemblance to that case.

One user was shocked and deeply troubled that such activities were happening.

“We need stronger laws and better enforcement to protect these women.”

Meanwhile, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is facing legal action in France, accused of failing to manage his app adequately, which allegedly facilitates criminal activities, reported Khaosod.

In related news, police arrested a 36 year old man, Samrit, for selling illegal firearms after he attempted to discard a .380 calibre gun and ammunition in a canal.

High-ranking officers, including Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, led the operation using an undercover agent to set up the sting. Samrit confessed, citing financial struggles as his motive, and revealed he bought the weapon online to sell for 15,000 baht (US$430).