South Korean chat room operator gets 40 years for ‘sextortion’, blackmail

Cho, center, leader of South Korea’s online sexual blackmail ring dubbed ‘Nth room’, was sentenced on Nov 26 to 40 years in prison for blackmailing women, including minors, into filming sexually explicit video and selling them to others. — AP

SEOUL, South Korea: The operator of online chat rooms in South Korea was sentenced Nov 26 to 40 years in prison on charges of blackmailing dozens of women, including minors, into filming sexually explicit videos and selling them to others.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Cho Ju-bin, 24, of violating laws on protecting minors and organising a criminal ring, court spokesman Kim Yong Chan said.