South Korean ‘poverty porn' YouTuber arrested in the Philippines over child abuse claims
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The suspect is believed to have used a
YouTube channel under the pretence of helping impoverished Filipino children to solicit donations – a revelation that has outraged both the South Korean and international public.
According to Philippine media outlet GMA Network and the Philippine National Police Cybercrime Division, the suspect, identified only as A, was arrested on June 11 in Cagayan de Oro City. Authorities rescued the underage girl along with her two-month-old baby, who was allegedly fathered by A.
A South Korean man has been arrested for various child exploitation crimes. Photo: Philippines Anti-Cybercrime Group
Investigators said the arrest stemmed from online surveillance conducted by the National Coordination Centre against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children, which discovered a suspicious YouTube video suggesting potential crimes against minors.
Authorities identified the South Korean man as the account holder, and determined he had been living with the 14-year-old girl. They later confirmed that she had given birth to his child, prompting charges under multiple laws including the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse Act, the Anti-Rape Law, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Although police have not released the suspect's name, he is widely believed to be a YouTuber who operated a so-called study room for children in poor neighbourhoods and appealed for donations from South Korean viewers.
Screengrab from a YouTube site of a so-called study room for children in poor neighbourhoods, believed to be operated by the suspect. Photo: YouTube/Crime Net
Online watchdog Crime Net, which documents criminal activity by South Korean nationals abroad, alleged in two recent videos that A was behind the YouTube account in question. The term 'poverty porn' has been used to describe his content – media that exploits the suffering of the poor to generate sympathy and monetary donations.
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