Is Torrent Actually a Bait Someone Threw to Catch Me?

The Charm of Unavailable Content

You know, sometimes I just get that feeling. Like when I think about **Pokemon Season 1**, which I watched day and night as a kid, even recording it on video tapes back then. I really, really want to watch it again, and ideally, own it so I can pull it out whenever I like. But right now, you can't find Season 1 on any streaming service, and the DVDs out there are only in English, with no Korean dub. I get that it's someone's protected work, copyrighted material that needs a license to use. But for me, someone who's already been so exposed to that content, it's such a personal and cherished memory. Even knowing the risks of torrents now, I sometimes wonder if I could really resist downloading Pokemon Season 1 if someone were to upload a torrent file. 

Why People Get Hooked on Torrents

There are two big reasons why folks use torrents. One, it's free. Two, you can find rare content that's just not available on the market anymore. Just me and my computer in a isolated room where nobody's watching, the file I want right in front of me, a few clicks... and just like that, you end up using torrents without even feeling guilty about it.

Is Torrenting Illegal?

Torrent Itself Isn't Illegal 

Torrenting itself is just a way to share files. While torrents aren't inherently illegal, it's definitely true that the content shared through them often is. When we talk about illegal stuff, we're usually looking at two main types: **copyright infringement** or **illegally filmed sexual content**. You've got cases where a struggling novelist might intentionally spread their novel as a text file, then track the IPs of the downloaders and sue them, saying, "Why are you spreading my copyrighted work without permission?" And it's super common for movie studios to actively catch people sharing their films via torrents. Plus, illegal sexual content that's become a big social issue, like the Nth Room case, is always being monitored by the police, even if no one specifically reports it. And get this, even Japanese adult videos, which many Korean guys mistakenly think are okay, sometimes lead to copyright infringement lawsuits from the production companies. 

Just to save a few bucks, or because you think, "I'm all alone in my room anyway," you might secretly download a file, only to get a call from the police a few days later and lose sleep over it. This happens to a surprising number of people. What's more, organized groups are increasingly using this exact method to sue folks and demand settlement money. 

"Didn't you know that when you download a torrent file, it also uploads?"
"I had no idea it was uploading, and I never intended to upload!"

So, for anyone out there who might still be actively using torrents, I want to explain how torrents actually work, why this method makes you more likely to get caught up in something illegal without even knowing it, and how it can turn you into a potential offender. I'll do this through a **special app**. Just slide the bar in the app below step by step, and you'll see a simple animation along with explanations of how torrents operate, so take your time and check it out. 

If you're using a VPN or looking for "workarounds" to get torrent files without leaving a trace, so you can just receive the file, we can get into that in more detail later. For now, my best advice is to just avoid making trouble for yourself in the first place. 

An App to Understand Torrents