Illegal Webtoon Platform Operator Arrested in Major International Crackdown

South Korean authorities have successfully dismantled one of the country’s largest copyright-infringing platforms, “OKTOON,” with the arrest of its operator in November. This investigation also targeted affiliated illegal websites “Nunu TV” and “TVWiki.”

Illegal Webtoon Platform Operator Arrested in Major International Crackdown

OKTOON was notorious for illegally uploading webtoons, while Nunu TV and TVWiki focused on unauthorized streaming services. To curb their operations, Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) seized the domains and redirected them to a “Domain Seizure Notice” page.

This crackdown was a collaborative effort involving the Daejeon District Prosecutors’ Office, Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, Korea’s National Intelligence Service, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Korea Office, INTERPOL, and other global agencies.

The OKTOON operator employed advanced techniques, such as collecting user accounts from legitimate webtoon platforms and illegally distributing their content.

Jeong Hyang-mi, Director of the MCST Copyright Bureau, emphasized the operation’s significance: “The arrest of the OKTOON operator is a major achievement under our ‘K-Content Illegal Distribution Eradication Plan.’ It sends a strong message that illegal website operators can no longer evade justice.”

Earlier this year, Japan’s CODA collaborated with South Korea’s COA to combat piracy in Brazil, targeting eight platforms involved in illegal distribution of webtoons and other content.

via Voce Sabia Anime