Cho Joo-bin, the mastermind of a notorious online sex abuse ring in South Korea has been sentenced to 40 years behind bars.

The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday found the 25-year-old college graduate guilty of violating laws to protect minors from sexual abuse and operating a criminal ring to make profits by producing and selling abusive videos.

He was also ordered to forfeit 100 million won and banned from working at child-related facilities for 10 years after his release.

Cho ran a group that blackmailed women and girls, including minors, into filming and sending sexual content that was then posted in pay-to-view chatrooms on the messaging app Telegram.

He was in charge of the group from last May to February this year, and blackmailed 74 people, 16 of whom were underage.

The court said Cho lured and threatened many victims and caused them "irreversible damage."

The punishment fell short of a life sentence sought by prosecutors last month.

Both sides have a week to appeal.

Five of Cho's accomplices, including a 16-year-old, also received sentences ranging from seven to 15 years in prison.

Calling the ruling "only the start to the end of the Telegram sex abuse case," civic groups urged for more action to protect the rights of sex abuse victims.

Cho Eun-ho of Minbyun, a social group of progressive lawyers, said, "Law enforcement and the court should use every possible means to protect the rights of victims, who can be empowered to live their lives again by helping bring the perpetrators to justice."

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