Korea’s top mobile operator, SK Telecom, was indicted Monday, along with several other content providers, on charges of selling pornography via mobile phones and not taking precautions to ensure teenagers could not gain access.
SK Telecom was one of 15 content providers prosecuted as a result of Korea’s first crackdown on mobile pornography. According to the Seoul Central Prosecutor’s Office, the companies were indicted without detention on charges of violating the law governing telecom networks and information protection.
An investigation revealed approximately 1,000 pornographic streaming videos and 100 porn novels were sold to cellular users since November 2002. SK Telecom’s revenue accounted for roughly 30 percent of the $7.8 billion made during that time, with the other providers accounting for the remaining 70 percent. Meanwhile, mobile porn providers were responsible for a revenue equaling $110 billion in 2004.
During the Monday’s hearing, prosecutors maintained it was too easy for teens to gain access to pornographic content by using citizen registration numbers belonging to their parents. It is estimated that about one-third of young mobile users (approximately 1.9 million) have phones registered in the names of their parents.
Others prosecuted in the case included employees of content providers for KTF Co. and LG Telecom, though neither phone company was directly indicted as the offending content was offered through content partners.
Summary trials for 25 producers of pornographic content also were requested by the prosecution, with fines ranging from $5 million to $10 million.
For its part, SK Telecom maintained that adult content sold through its phones was authorized by the Korea Media Rating Board. The company also said it has made efforts to ensure that teens do not have access to lewd content.
