The Ministry of Justice announced on June 11 that it has extradited a 37-year-old man, referred to as A, from Japan through criminal extradition procedures. A is accused of operating an illegal manga sharing site from 2015 to 2022, where he allegedly posted over 1,400 copyrighted manga works and advertised gambling sites.
Originally a South Korean national, A left for Japan in 2017 and acquired Japanese citizenship in 2022. Following a request for cooperation from prosecutors and police in January 2024, the Ministry began reviewing the case and legal issues. Subsequently, it engaged in discussions with Japanese authorities regarding the extradition. The process was completed in March, culminating in A's return to South Korea after receiving final approval from Japanese officials.
The Ministry maintained close cooperation with Japanese authorities throughout the extradition process. A Ministry official emphasized, "This case marks the first instance of South Korea receiving an extradited criminal with Japanese nationality since the signing of the Extradition Treaty between South Korea and Japan in 2002."
Looking ahead, the Ministry plans to hold accountable those who infringe on copyrights and harm the cultural content industry, including webtoons. The Ministry stated, "We will investigate the illegal manga sharing site associated with A, working through international cooperation to uncover the full extent of the criminal methods and operational structure, and ensure thorough tracking and recovery of criminal proceeds. We will collaborate closely with the prosecution, police, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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