The operator of the illegal streaming site 'Noonoo TV' for domestic video content has been arrested.
According to the cultural, sports and tourism ministry's copyright crime forensic investigation team, Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office recently indicted the operator of Noonoo TV, identified as A, while detaining the individual.
The cultural ministry's copyright crime forensic investigation team apprehended A on the 9th in collaboration with the prosecution, police, National Intelligence Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Korea office, and Interpol. With the arrest, the domains of illegal webtoon sites such as Noonoo TV, TVWiki, and OKToon operated by A were confiscated and access was blocked.
Additionally, two luxury vehicles and one luxury watch belonging to A, as well as virtual assets including cryptocurrency, were seized as crime proceeds.
A launched Noonoo TV in 2021 and has been illegally streaming popular programs from domestic broadcasters and original content from both domestic and international OTT platforms, generating revenue from illegal gambling and adult site advertisements. Although continuously cracked down and shut down, Noonoo TV repeatedly resurfaced by setting up servers overseas in the Dominican Republic and Paraguay, changing domains to evade government surveillance, which has sparked controversy.
A reportedly used multiple virtual private networks (VPNs), foreign credit cards, and overseas virtual asset exchanges to evade tracking by investigative agencies. It was found that, during the illegal reproduction and posting of works, official webtoon site accounts were collected from an unspecified large number of individuals in a meticulously planned criminal scheme.
To maximize revenue, peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming technology was used to reduce video transmission expenses.
Jeong Hyang-mi, director of the cultural ministry's copyright bureau, said, "This case demonstrates that illegal websites cannot escape the investigation net of the cultural ministry's copyright crime forensic investigation team. We will do our best to protect the legitimate rights of creators by cooperating with relevant departments and strengthening international joint investigations."
Meanwhile, the first trial for A is scheduled for the 6th of next month.