The leader of a crime ring that sexually exploited more than 260 people was sentenced to life in prison. 

The Seoul Central District Court said Monday that the ringleader, Kim Nok-wan, had organized and operated the Telegram-based network "The Vigilantes" between 2020 and January of this year, during which he obtained victims' personal information and blackmailed them into providing nude photos.

Kim was charged earlier this year and convicted of producing and distributing approximately two-thousand exploitative photos and videos, as well as assault of a minor. 

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim to life in prison and ordered the online publication of his identity for ten years, a ten-year ban on employment at facilities linked to children and adolescents and 30 years wearing a tracking device.

The number of Kim's victims, totaling 261, is more than three times that of Cho Joo-bin in the notorious "Baksabang" case of 2019-2020.