South Korean media's fixation on BTS' SUGA continues amid alarming revelations of secret Telegram s*x chats
Trigger Warning: Descriptions of rape and sexual assault.
Updated : August 28, 2024 09:51 AM ISTTrigger Warning: Descriptions of rape and sexual assault.
Telegram s*x chats in South Korea
Trigger Warning: Descriptions of rape and sexual assault.
From illegally taking photos of BTS rapper SUGA at the police station to persistently spreading fake news about him while offering insincere apologies, South Korean journalists have become a laughingstock among foreign media outlets. Despite the rapper apologizing three times—writing two letters and even bowing in apology while the press hounded him like wolves—the South Korean media seems fixated on crafting stories around him.
What’s even more alarming is that while SUGA, also known as AGUST D, fell after riding an electric scooter (also known as a kickboard) under the influence of alcohol (DUI) generated over 100 articles and TV coverage, simultaneously, chat rooms dedicated to illegal, sexually exploitative deepfake images of real-life young women and girls from universities, high schools, and even middle schools are running rampant across South Korea with little to no coverage.
In fact, secret Man's Telegram rooms were discovered in over 70% of South Korean schools where female students' faces were photoshopped into porn using AI.
— (cat) 페미니즘=여성인권운동 (@vryjkof) August 25, 2024
Girls in South Korea created a list of schools to check if they were victims. This is just a part of it. https://t.co/GTDTvBfbFF pic.twitter.com/TzJG8NUBLj
What are the secret Telegram sx rooms?
Various social media accounts, especially on X (formerly known as Twitter), have revealed numerous Telegram chat rooms distributing illegal deepfake pornography categorized by region and school. Korean men have created multiple chat rooms on Telegram, spreading personal information about women around them, including their family members and coworkers. These crimes are expanding in scope while becoming increasingly detailed.
A user on X posted screenshots and wrote, "In South Korea, a large-scale sexual crime ring using Telegram has been discovered again in recent days. 220,000 men were in a secret Telegram room where AI was used to photoshop women's faces into porn. So Korean feminists are busy. We are trying to make this known overseas."
The user even added, "Most victims are unable to refuse men's demands to rape them, as it would prevent the video, along with their personal information, from being made public. So, there is a very high probability that rape has already occurred in such secret Telegram rooms."
In South Korea, a large-scale sexual crime ring using Telegram has been discovered again in recent days. 220,000 men were in a secret Telegram room where AI was used to photoshop women's faces into porn. So Korean feminists are busy. We are trying to make this known overseas.😭 https://t.co/6sen9HlSN1 pic.twitter.com/8B2RJXpWsf
— (cat) 페미니즘=여성인권운동 (@vryjkof) August 25, 2024
Why are BTS fans, known as ARMY, angry?
As a large fandom predominantly made up of women, many ARMY members are disgusted that the media is relentlessly pursuing a man who has already apologized for his mistake while ignoring the widespread Telegram chat rooms spreading like wildfire on social media.
ARMY wants the journalists, who have been pressuring Min Yoongi to keep answering questions about his scooter incident, to focus on the growing danger women face in South Korea.
Not a single article about kr male siblings’ nth room gc when kr women have been spreading it on every social media platform for days now cuz the media only cares about the man who fell off his scooter & is busy reporting the angle of his bow or the time he arrived at the station https://t.co/8cUExz92I2 pic.twitter.com/BqevtOnYGl
— 드닝 (@gol3naotc) August 25, 2024
the difference between how the South Korean media is treating a celebrity for falling off a scooter while intoxicated versus the thousands upon thousands of men violating women’s privacies & bodies every day is fucking insane. what a sick fucking joke.
— lottie ⁷/₈ ⋆ 🧸ྀི (@gommy__bear) August 25, 2024
If the journalist actually did their job, we would have articles upon article about the rape, chatrooms about rape, whatever is happening in South korean politics and so on, NOT Suga riding a electric scooter after tripping
— Dharling (@Tashiaprofile) August 25, 2024
About SUGA's case:
SUGA, who is currently serving as a social service worker, was involved in an accident while riding an electric scooter near his home in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on August 6. Police patrolling the area discovered him, as shown in CCTV footage, where he is seen interacting with them.
Despite the footage showing that he was wearing a helmet, stayed on the designated path for kickboards and pedestrians, and only fell while navigating a sharp turn without causing any harm, media scrutiny has been intense.
According to recent reports, some media outlets have stated that the police have completed their investigation into SUGA, and he will not be called to the police station again. It was confirmed by the police, in consultation with the Ministry of Land, that the scooter the rapper was riding did not require a number plate.
The claim that Suga rode a scooter without a license plate was also false misinformation.
— mexjeans fan (@jjinjins) August 26, 2024
A police official stated that the investigation related to Suga has been concluded, and there is no possibility of additional summons.
Additionally, regarding the suspicion of the absence… pic.twitter.com/qmhkeuMJaX
According to the news, The police mentioned the investigation for 🐱had finished, and he wouldn't be called (to the police station) again. Also they consulted the ministry of the land, and confirmd that the scooter 🐱 rode didn't need to put on the number plate. https://t.co/irvLWjwMlG
— 슈가젤리🍬 (@SUGAJelly9339) August 26, 2024
so South Korea media punished him for something not even their own police knew, they had to contact the MF Dept of Transportation to verify this whole thing but HE was supposed to know? that country is a whole fuxking joke
— silvia 🥢 (@93MIDASYG) August 26, 2024
Regarding the DUI's impact on his social service duties, the Military Manpower Administration clarified that the incident occurred outside SUGA's working hours and will not affect his service period.