South Korea's Broadcast Media Communications Review Committee will strengthen international cooperation with Telegram and step up blocking of content delivery network (CDN) operators to prevent the spread of illegal webtoon distribution sites such as 'Newtoki' and other alternative sites.

The committee said on Tuesday it has set up a response system that combines deleting Telegram channels and directly blocking CDN operators to address limits in access blocks that rely on domestic internet service providers (ISPs).

The committee said it issued correction requests for a total of 7,342 cases of illegal copyright-infringing information over about three months since mid-April, including 2,200 alternative sites. By type, copyright-infringing posts accounted for 4,880 cases, followed by 2,200 alternative sites, 252 cases of guidance and intermediary information for copyright-infringing sites, and 10 new sites.

Through international cooperation with Telegram, it first deleted a Telegram channel that provided 'Newtoki' addresses in late June and also deleted newly identified guidance channels. The approach goes beyond simple access blocks by removing the channels themselves with cooperation from overseas platforms.

In consultations with the Korea Communications Commission, it also strengthened blocks on bypass access by directly providing a blocking list to CDN operators. ISP-centred blocks had a limitation because overseas illegal sites could bypass the blocking network if they used domestic CDN cache servers.

In the second half, it will introduce electronic reviews to speed up screening and blocking of new alternative sites. Once the electronic review system is introduced, reviews of copyright-infringing information, currently held about twice a week, are expected to expand to at least three times a week. The committee expects this to reduce the time needed to block alternative sites that reappear with changed URLs.

The committee said, "Illegal webtoon sites are a serious social problem that threatens the K-content ecosystem and become breeding grounds for secondary crimes such as gambling," adding, "We will strengthen international cooperation with global platforms such as Telegram and continue effective measures in cooperation with relevant institutions."