Son was released on the 6th while the court made a decision to refrain from repatriating the United States from Son Jung-woo, the operator of the world's largest child sexual exploitation site. 

Mr. Son in black top and bottom went out to Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province this afternoon. "I'm really sorry and I'm going to make sure that the punishment remains sweet. I'm really sorry," Son said while bowing his head in front of the reporter. 

When asked about the future investigation, Mr. Sohn replied briefly, "I will do my best." While leaving the front of the reporter, Mr. Son repeatedly bowed his head and said, "I'm sorry." 


The 20th section of the Seoul High Court's Criminal Court decided not to grant extradition to Mr. Son, who was claimed by the prosecution. 

The judiciary judged that it was difficult to conclude the repatriation of Mr. Son in light of the necessity to severely punish sexual crimes committed across borders, the crime of child sexual exploitation, and the need to combat international money laundering.

In addition, he explained, "If you deliver Mr. Son to the United States, it is difficult for Korea to rule out the possibility of disrupting the investigation (related to sexual exploitation)."

In addition, he added, "The court's judgment that not leading Mr. Son is a significant benefit for South Korea to prevent and suppress the production of child and youth pornography."

The court said in particular, "(Non-return decision) never gives Mr. Son an indulgence. He emphasized, "I hope Mr. Son will actively cooperate with the investigation and be punished properly."

Son was arrested in March 2018 on charges of distributing child and adolescent sexual exploits by running the Internet site'Welcome to Video' on the Dark Web, which can only be accessed using a special browser.

He operated the site from July 2015 until redemption. During this period, it was found that over 20,000 paid members received hundreds of millions of cryptocurrencies and distributed 2220,000 pornography.

The first sentence sentenced Mr. Son to three years of probation in two years of imprisonment, but the second sentence sentenced him to one year and six months in prison, and afterwards, the sentence was finalized without notice, and Mr. Son was due to be released on April 27 this year.

However, the U.S. Department of Justice has requested the repatriation of Mr. Son in accordance with the extradition treaty, and our Justice Department accepted it and the Seoul High Court filed for extradition.

Mr. Son was delayed from being released after a new arrest warrant was issued before his expiration date, and he had been questioned three times beforehand on whether to deliver the criminal.

(Composition: Shin Eun Jeong, Photograph: Doowon Yang, Editorial: Heesun Kim) 

(Photo = Yonhap News)