If a minor uses someone else’s identity to view mature posts, is the creator still legally protected?

• Legal responsibility for mature content
• POSTYPE’s efforts and response
• Age requirement for using mature content
• Identity verification for foreign nationals

Legal responsibility for mature content

• If a creator distributes lawful mature content using POSTYPE’s identity verification system, the creator is legally protected even if a minor completes identity verification by stealing another person’s identity and views the content.
• A minor who steals another person’s identity to complete identity verification may be punished under related laws such as Resident Registration Act Article 37, Criminal Act Article 314 and Article 236.
• If an identity-verified account that can access mature content is sold, rented, transferred, or shared to a minor, a more severe liability may be imposed under laws including Youth Protection Act Article 16 and Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection Article 42-2.

POSTYPE’s efforts and response

• POSTYPE provides a lawful identity verification system using Toss, mobile phone, i-PIN, and card, so creators can focus on their work with greater peace of mind.
• We limit the number of accounts that can complete identity verification and set an identity verification validity period, among other policies and technologies, to continuously reduce creators’ concerns.
• Through the personal information theft checking service Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) e-Privacy Clean Service, POSTYPE handles cases as quickly as possible when identity theft is detected.
• We continuously monitor abnormal usage, such as access from an excessive number of devices or simultaneous logins from locations that are far apart.
• If fraudulent use is suspected, we may contact the user via text message, phone call, etc., to reconfirm age and identity. If an account is deemed to be engaging in fraudulent use, measures such as forcing a password reset, canceling identity verification, or permanent suspension of service may be taken.
• If fraudulent behavior continues, we will respond firmly with criminal complaints and civil claims for damages under laws such as Criminal Act Article 314 and Electronic Financial Transactions Act Article 6(3).

Age requirement for using mature content

• On POSTYPE, the age requirement for using mature content is “Korean age 20 (recognized as an adult from January 1 of the year they turn age 19 in full years).” However, for foreign nationals who do not have Korean nationality, the adult standard is “age 18 in full years.”
• In Korea, different laws set different age thresholds: for example, the Civil Act uses 19 full years, while the Game Industry Promotion Act uses 18 full years. Each statute separately defines age-based eligibility restrictions, and there is no single clear, unified legal standard. For online content services, the Korea Communications Standards Commission leaves the standard to industry self-regulation.
• Within the scope permitted by domestic and foreign laws, POSTYPE has set its adult standard under Youth Protection Act Article 2(1) to protect both creators and minor readers.

Identity verification for foreign nationals

• Under foreign law, foreign nationals can complete identity verification through a simplified process where they sign a statement that says, “The user themself is age 18 or older, and if this is not true, the user bears all responsibility.”
• POSTYPE uses various technical measures to prevent minors from pretending to be foreign nationals to access mature content, including the following:
  • If there is even a single record of access from within the Republic of Korea, the user is classified as Korean.
  • If the operating system language of the user’s device or browser is set to Korean, the user is classified as Korean.
  • If the email domain used is for services intended for domestic users, the user is classified as Korean.
  • Other additional filters that cannot be disclosed due to technical and security reasons.
• Once a user has been classified as Korean, they must continue to complete identity verification as a Korean user, even if they change their account information or language settings.
• Korean nationals living abroad and foreign nationals residing abroad who are classified as Korean but find it difficult to complete identity verification via card or i-PIN can complete ID verification instead.