Police booked 11 college students and graduates for posting naked pictures of themselves and others on an online student community site.

Hyehwa Police Station in Seoul said Thursday they recently booked without detention 11 men and women, mostly in their 20s, on charges of spreading obscene materials on the internet. 

Police launched an investigation in June after receiving reports that obscene pictures had been posted to an anonymous community site only accessible to students of a private university in Seoul.

The 11 suspects, some affiliated with the university, are accused of putting up pictures of their own private body parts or those of others found on the internet. Investigations showed they posted the images for a short period at late-night hours.

Some of the offenders said they took the actions due to heightened stress during the college exam period.

Police referred cases with heavier charges to the prosecution while requesting a summary trial of the others. Summary trial is a process in which the court rules on minor offenses entailing a maximum fine of 200,000 won ($170) without formal criminal procedures.



By Choi Ji-won (jwc@heraldcorp.com)