25.11.23.Today News : NunuTV Operator Appeals 4-Year 6-Month Prison Sentence to Supreme Court

NunuTV Operator Appeals 4-Year 6-Month Prison Sentence to Supreme Court

📍Illegal streaming platform administrator challenges increased sentence as industry watches potential landmark ruling

The operator of the illegal streaming platform ‘NunuTV,’ who was convicted of distributing unauthorized OTT content domestically and internationally, has filed an appeal to the Supreme Court after receiving an increased prison sentence in the appellate ruling. The case is expected to serve as a legal precedent in addressing large-scale digital copyright violations.

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🔹 Sentence Increased in Appeal: From 3 Years to 4 Years and 6 Months
The Daejeon District Court (Criminal Division 3-3) overturned the original three-year prison sentence issued in the first trial and instead handed a four-year and six-month prison sentence to the 31-year-old defendant (identified as A).  The court cited A’s prior convictions involving sports gambling platforms and aiding pornography distribution, emphasizing the repeated nature of the crimes and the scale of damage. 

🔹 Fine Reduced: ₩700 Million → ₩374.7 Million
However, the investigative court accepted arguments that revenue estimates may have included earnings from websites run by accomplices. As a result, the forfeiture amount was reduced by nearly half.

🔹 Operation Through Overseas Servers; Three Illegal Sites Connected
From 2021 to 2023, A operated NunuTV, providing unauthorized domestic and international OTT content without charge.
Even after the shutdown, A continued operations by establishing two new platforms: the illegal streaming site “TVWiki” and the illegal webtoon-sharing site “OKToon.”

Investigators found that operations relied on servers located in the Dominican Republic and Paraguay, along with the use of multiple VPN layers, foreign cryptocurrency exchanges, and international payment systems to evade law enforcement. 

🔹 Arrested Through International Cooperation
A was arrested in November last year through coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of Culture, prosecutors, and Interpol, and was later indicted and detained.

🔹 Estimated Damages Reach ₩5 Trillion
Industry experts estimate that NunuTV alone caused approximately ₩5 trillion (USD ~$3.7 billion) in copyright damages, making it one of the largest illegal streaming cases recorded in Korea. Stakeholders expect the Supreme Court ruling to set a strong legal benchmark.

🔹 Supreme Court Decision Pending
Case files have been transferred to the Supreme Court. The Court will either uphold the appellate ruling if the appeal lacks legal merit or overturn the verdict if misapplication of the law is proven.

One-line summary : The operator of NunuTV appealed to the Supreme Court after receiving a 4-year and 6-month prison sentence in the appellate ruling.