A Korean man in his 50s was arrested in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines, on June 11, charged with child abuse, trafficking, and sexual exploitation involving a 14-year-old girl who later gave birth to his child. The suspect, known only as A, allegedly used a YouTube channel that purported to help impoverished Filipino children to solicit donations, a tactic that has outraged both Korean and international communities.
The Philippine National Police Cybercrime Division and media outlet GMA Network reported that the arrest followed an investigation by the National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM). Authorities uncovered a suspicious YouTube video implying possible crimes against minors, leading to the identification of A as the channel’s account holder. He was found living with the underage girl, B, who had given birth to his child.
Charges filed against the suspect include violations of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse Act, the Anti-Rape Law, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.
Though police have withheld the suspect’s full identity, watchdog group Crime Net alleges that A is a YouTuber who operated a “study room” for poor children and appealed to Korean viewers for donations. His videos, described as “poverty porn,” exploit the hardships of impoverished children to garner sympathy and funds. Crime Net noted the suspect posted videos for two years, many focusing on Filipino children, with the last video posted on the day of his arrest. Several uploads mention the girl’s pregnancy and the newborn baby, with one video showing a man thought to be A saying, “Born on April 24. My first baby,” matching the baby’s age at rescue.
The arrest and evidence have sparked outrage online, with viewers condemning the suspect’s actions and warning others against donating to similar channels.
