South Korea’s government announced arrests of 32 operators and shutdown of 66 illegal porn sites, part of a multi-agency effort to combat digital sex crimes, even as concerns persist over recurring networks like an alleged Soranet offshoot.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reported that 32 operators of illegal sites distributing non-consensual recordings were arrested, with 66 platforms shut down as of September 22, 2026. This follows a government task force launched in April to dismantle the ecosystem of illegal sites, which reduced their number by 29% to 4,736 from 6,683 in August.
Government Crackdown and Arrests
The Ministry formed a pan-government task force (TF) in April, led by the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, to address digital sex crimes. Authorities confiscated 2.7 billion won in criminal proceeds from 32 operators and 176 billion won from illegal gambling sites funding pornographic networks. The Korean National Police Agency is investigating 76 illegal sites, with dedicated teams in Seoul, Busan, Gyeonggi, and South Jeolla.
The Ministry of Justice established a Special Response TF for Transnational Crimes to track overseas operators. Officials also pressured hosting companies to suspend services for 68 illegal sites, resulting in one suspension and deletion of 3,331 items of child and youth sexual exploitation material.
Ongoing Challenges a Decade Later
A decade after the Soranet scandal, South Korea faces persistent issues with copycat sites. Last month, a man was detained for an alleged Soranet offshoot sharing 2,000 videos and organizing partner-swapping sessions filmed and uploaded. The SCMP reported that such networks thrive despite crackdowns, reflecting difficulties in policing online spaces and changing societal attitudes toward women.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family emphasized its commitment to eradicating illegal sites, stating, “By pooling the government’s strength, we will eradicate illegal sites by tracking them to the end—even if they hide overseas or change or impersonate domains—so victims can escape the pain that had been endlessly repeated by the re-distribution of sexual exploitation materials.
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The government’s efforts highlight a dual challenge: dismantling existing networks while preventing new ones from emerging. The SCMP notes that the persistence of sites like the alleged Soranet offshoot highlights the complexity of addressing digital sex crimes in an evolving online environment.