South Korea's online grooming app got 4 reports this year as police arrested 338
In short
The government-made online grooming support app received 4 reports this year through September, and only 1 led to professional counselling, according to data lawmaker Kim Seon-min released on 22 October. Police arrested 338 online grooming suspects in undercover operations through August. Kim said the agencies must clarify who maintains the app and upgrade it.
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The government-made online grooming support app received 4 reports this year through September, and 1 of them led to professional counselling, according to data released on 22 October. Police arrested 338 online grooming suspects in undercover operations through August this year. Kim Seon-min, a Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker on the National Assembly's science, ICT and broadcasting committee, received the data from the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission and the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Cumulatively, the app received 19 reports from its 2024 launch to 30 September. One financial fraud case was excluded, leaving 18 valid reports, and 9 reporters were reached. Over the period there were 8 professional counselling cases and 2 deletion support cases, and none was referred to investigators. ZDNet Korea reported that 3 of this year's 4 reports could not be followed up because the reporter could not be reached. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The app was promoted in 2023 by the Broadcasting and Communications Commission (방송통신위원회) of the time, together with the Ministry of Women and Family and the National Police Agency, and the Broadcasting and Telecommunications User Protection Association developed it. A pilot began in April 2024. Cumulative downloads were 1,758 as of 8 October. ZDNet Korea listed 1,104 downloads in 2024, 343 in 2025 and 311 this year. The app is offered only on Google Play and One Store, so iPhone users cannot use it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
To use the app, a victim fills in a report with the social media type, ID, email and details of the harm. The form is emailed to a staff member, who follows up by contact to link the victim to counselling and support. Newsis said Kim sees the app as still dependent on victims writing the form themselves, and the Commission said it piloted and provided the app focused on basic reporting. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Grooming cases among users of the 17 support centres for child and teen sexual exploitation victims rose from 161 in 2024 to 206 last year, about 28%. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's 2025 survey on prostitution found that 62.9% of online sexual solicitation harm was not known to outsiders. Newsis and ZDNet Korea added that only 4% had used the reporting function of the site or app where it happened. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Responsibility for the app is unclear. The Commission said the institute would handle operation, including receiving reports, while the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said the institute only handles counselling of reported cases. No separate budget has been secured for upgrading or maintaining the app. The Commission said its 2024 subsidy budget request and its 2024 and 2025 citizen-participation budget proposals were not reflected, and that it runs the app without separate operating or maintenance costs. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kim said: "Four reports and one professional counselling case this year are where the government-made app stands today." Kim said the two agencies should clarify who operates and maintains the app and check whether it helps victims. Kim also said children should not be left to notice the harm and file a form themselves, and called for AI-based anonymous counselling before reporting, linked to professional counselling and protection where needed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The figures, which Kim released from agency submissions, point to a gap between police arrests and use of the government-made reporting app. Outlets report that no separate budget exists for improving the app and that the commission and the ministry describe the institute's role differently.
Key facts
- The app received 4 reports this year, and 1 led to professional counselling. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police arrested 338 online grooming suspects in undercover operations through August this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The app received 19 reports cumulatively from 2024 to 30 September: 8 led to counselling, 2 to deletion support and none to investigators. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Cumulative downloads reached 1,758 as of 8 October. The app is offered only on Google Play and One Store, so iPhone users cannot use it. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Grooming cases among users of support centres for child and teen sexual exploitation victims rose from 161 in 2024 to 206 last year, about 28%. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- No separate budget has been secured for upgrading or maintaining the app. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Seon-min of the Rebuilding Korea Party, on the National Assembly science, ICT and broadcasting committee, released data on 22 October from the Broadcasting Media Communications Commission and the Korea Women's Human Rights Institute showing 4 reports and 1 professional counselling case this year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Of 19 cumulative reports, 18 were valid after one financial fraud case was excluded, and 9 reporters were reached. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The Commission said the institute handles app operation, while the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said the institute only handles counselling of reported cases. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Why so few reports were filed. Kim attributes the problem to the app's design, unassigned budget and management; the documents do not report any agency's own explanation of the low usage.
- Who is responsible for running and maintaining the app. The commission and the ministry gave differing accounts of the institute's role.
- Whether 3 of this year's 4 reports could not be followed up because the reporter was not reached. Only one outlet reports this detail.