MIRYANG – Eight YouTubers have been referred to prosecution on charges of illegally disclosing personal details of individuals involved in a controversial gang rape case that occurred in Miryang 20 years ago, police reported Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the YouTubers' decision to reveal the identities was viewed as an attempt to administer justice outside of legal confines, especially given the public discontent over the perceived leniency of the sentences handed down to the perpetrators. The case originally dates back to 2004 when 44 high school students were reported to have gang raped five girls, with two victims in middle school and three in high school. Many of the assailants were not indicted, having reached settlements with the victims, or received juvenile penalties that did not result in criminal records.
The issue resurfaced recently after several YouTube channels and blogs exposed the names and details of the perpetrators, which led to a public debate over the ethics of such disclosures and the principles of private punishment versus due process. Subsequently, individuals named in the videos have accused the content creators of defamation, initiating legal actions that led to Monday's referrals.
As of last week, the police had received 469 complaints related to the case, with 192 people currently identified as subjects for further questioning. This move underscores ongoing tensions around privacy, public interest, and justice in cases involving minors and serious crimes.