ANKARA

A South Korean court on Monday handed down life imprisonment to the ringleader of a Telegram-based sex crime ring for sexually exploiting 261 people, including minors, local media reported.

Kim Nok-wan, 33, was charged with organizing and working for the crime ring known as "The Vigilantes," producing and distributing sexual exploitation videos, forcing the use of illegally produced videos and quasi-rape, the Yonhap news agency reported.

In addition to the prison term, the Seoul Central District Court also ordered the publication of Kim's personal information on digital networks for 10 years.

He will also face 10 years of employment restriction and 30 years of wearing an electronic device.

Kim ran the crime ring from May 2020 until January 2025 and sexually assaulted children and teenagers while calling himself a "pastor," according to the news agency.

The gang members also blackmailed men and women into submitting nude photos of themselves and used them to produce and distribute sexual exploitation videos.