In Seoul, a facility dedicated to responding to online sex crimes targeting children and adolescents is being established. In particular, an artificial intelligence (AI)-based response model for online sexual exploitation has been introduced for the first time in the country.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will establish the “Online Sexual Exploitation Safe ON Center” and, after a pilot operation in January, begin full-scale operations from February 9. In cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Center and the Seoul Foundation of Women & Family, the city will also provide specialized psychological support services for victims.

Unlike existing facilities that focus mainly on victim support, the Safe ON Center is characterized by its reinforced function of preventing online crimes. By introducing an AI-based early detection system, it continuously detects signs of sexual grooming or exploitation risks in publicly accessible spaces such as open online chat rooms and social networking services (SNS).

Using the “Seoul Safe Eye” technology developed by the city, the system filters risk signals in KakaoTalk open chat rooms and public-type SNS, and only when abnormal signs are detected do counselors intervene to report and block perpetrators’ accounts.

In fact, more than 80% of child and youth sex crime victimization has been found to occur online. Most recently reported counseling cases of child and youth sexual exploitation have been tallied as having occurred through online media such as chat apps or SNS.

If there is confirmation that risk signs detected online are likely to lead to an actual meeting or crime, a dedicated emergency rescue team will be dispatched by vehicle to the scene to protect the victim. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also plans to build a cooperation system with the police so that offenders can be apprehended on site. It will also conduct training for teachers and parents on how to identify signs of sexual exploitation in order to enhance response capabilities at schools and in homes.

The center will provide not only prevention and rescue, but also counseling and medical support for victimized youth. Through the “My Own Doctor” program, in which an obstetrics and gynecology specialist participates, the center will support emergency treatment such as tests for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests, and emergency contraception, and operate an accompaniment-to-hospital service.

An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, “By combining AI technology with on-site response, a system has been established that blocks sexual exploitation risks in advance and responds immediately when victimization occurs,” adding, “The city will continue to strengthen its prevention and protection functions in line with changes in the online environment.”

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