Experts attribute the rise of vigilante-style content to public frustration with the perceived inefficiencies of the judicial system. (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Korea Bizwire) – A South Korean YouTuber known for live-streaming drug busts after luring suspects has been convicted, raising questions about the legality of so-called vigilante justice.
The Seoul Northern District Court sentenced the former YouTuber, identified as A, to six months in prison, suspended for two years, along with 120 hours of community service, on November 13.
A was charged with violating the Narcotics Control Act by impersonating a 28-year-old woman on a messaging app and posting, “I want meth” (a euphemism for methamphetamine), to entrap a drug offender. South Korean law prohibits sharing or soliciting information about drug transactions.
A argued in court that the act was intended to assist law enforcement and should be considered lawful. However, the court ruled otherwise, stating, “Even with the goal of aiding police, pretending to be a woman and initiating such activity could provoke individuals without prior intent to commit a crime. This is unacceptable and demonstrates serious misconduct.”
The case is part of a growing trend of self-proclaimed justice seekers on social media who are finding themselves on trial.
In September, a YouTuber in his 40s, who gained fame for live-streaming his pursuits of suspected drunk drivers, was implicated in a fatal car crash involving a target he was chasing. Although the court dismissed a warrant for his arrest, the case remains under investigation.
Does justice really prevail? (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
Similarly, a YouTuber known as “Battle Rabbit” and his wife were indicted in August for publicly disclosing personal information about perpetrators involved in a sexual assault case in Miryang.
Experts attribute the rise of vigilante-style content to public frustration with the perceived inefficiencies of the judicial system. “Private punishments appeal to citizens who feel let down by the slow and lenient nature of state-administered justice,” said Kim Dae-geun, a research fellow at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice.
However, Kim warns that such acts often disguise themselves as retributive justice while crossing legal boundaries. “Vigilantism risks devolving into excessive revenge, prioritizing subjective truths over actual facts,” he said.
Choi Jong-sool, a professor of police administration at Dong-Eui University, emphasized the need for systemic measures to curb vigilante actions. “We must establish policies to deter private punishments and work on shifting public perception to avoid normalizing these behaviors,” he said.
The conviction of YouTuber A serves as a reminder of the fine line between aiding justice and undermining it, as South Korea grapples with balancing public discontent and adherence to the rule of law.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
