A Korean YouTuber, once praised for his overseas volunteer work, has been arrested in the Philippines on charges of impregnating a 13-year-old girl. The man — whose name remains unknown — was popular for running a study center for underprivileged children.

He is now facing multiple criminal investigations under local child protection and anti-trafficking laws.

According to the Philippine National Police and local outlet GMA Network, the accused had been living with the underage girl in a northern Philippine city and was arrested on June 11. Authorities confirmed that the girl recently gave birth to his child. He is currently being held in custody as the investigation continues.

The man operated a YouTube channel where he promoted what he claimed were charitable efforts to help children in poverty receive education. In his videos, he introduced “study rooms” that aimed to help children read, write, and stay in school, and he frequently requested donations from Korean viewers. He even revealed in some content that donations had exceeded ₩10.0 million KRW (about $7,340 USD).

His videos showed him spending time with children, often in friendly and supportive settings. But concerns grew after viewers noticed minors appearing frequently in his content. The Philippine police say they launched an investigation after spotting repeated appearances of underage individuals during routine cyber patrols.

The case has added to growing concerns about sexual exploitation involving children in vulnerable communities. In 2022, the Philippines raised the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 to better protect minors. Experts say stronger international cooperation is needed to prevent similar crimes, as patterns of abuse targeting children in poor countries continue to emerge.