Is a creator legally protected if a minor uses someone else’s identity to view mature posts? – POSTYPE Help Center

🌐 This article has been translated from Korean for your convenience. If there is any discrepancy, the Korean version prevails.

Legal responsibility regarding mature content

If a creator distributes lawful mature content using POSTYPE’s identity verification system, the creator can receive legal protection even if a minor completes identity verification by stealing someone else’s identity and then accesses the content.
A minor who uses someone else’s identity to complete identity verification can be punished under relevant laws such as Article 37 of the Resident Registration Act and Articles 314 and 236 of the Criminal Act.
If an account that has passed identity verification and can view mature content is sold, lent, transferred, or shared to a minor, the person responsible may be held even more strictly liable under laws such as Article 16 of the Youth Protection Act and Article 42-2 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

POSTYPE provides a lawful identity verification system using Toss, mobile phone, i-PIN, and card so that 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 ongoing policies and technical measures, to reduce creators’ concerns.
Through the personal information misuse detection service Korea Internet & Security Agency’s e-Privacy Clean Service, we process cases as quickly as possible when identity theft is detected.
We continuously monitor abnormal usage patterns, such as logging in from an excessive number of devices or from distant locations at the same time.
If fraudulent use is suspected, we may contact the user via text message, phone call, etc. to reconfirm their age and identity. If an account is deemed to be fraudulently used, measures such as forcing a password reset, canceling identity verification, or permanently suspending service use may be taken.
If fraudulent activities continue, we will respond firmly, including filing criminal complaints and civil claims for damages in accordance with Article 314 of the Criminal Act and Article 6(3) of the Electronic Financial Transactions Act.

On POSTYPE, the age requirement for using mature content is “20 years old in Korean age (recognized as an adult from January 1 of the year you turn 19 in full years).” However, for foreigners without Korean nationality, the standard for adulthood is “18 full years of age.”
In Korea, different laws set different age thresholds—for example, age 19 under the Civil Act and age 18 under the Game Industry Promotion Act—and various provisions impose age-based eligibility restrictions. There is no single clear, unified legal standard. For online content services, the Korea Communications Standards Commission leaves the detailed standards to industry self-regulation.
Within the bounds allowed by domestic and foreign laws, POSTYPE has determined its standard for adulthood based on Article 2(1) of the Youth Protection Act in order to protect both creators and underage readers.

Under overseas laws, foreigners can complete identity verification using a simple method that requires them to sign an agreement stating, “The user themself is at least 18 years old, and if this is not true, they will bear all responsibility.”
POSTYPE uses various technical measures to prevent minors from pretending to be non-Koreans in order to access mature content. Whether a user is considered Korean is determined comprehensively based on multiple factors such as access environment and account usage information.
Once an account has been determined to belong to a Korean user, they must continue to go through Korean identity verification methods, even if they change their account settings or language.
Koreans living abroad, and foreigners living abroad who are identified as Korean users and find it difficult to verify their identity via card or i-PIN, can complete ID verification instead.