By 
04-10-2024
Valentina Palcovicova
South and East Asia Researcher,
Global Human Rights Defence.
Three years after being targeted by fake nude images online, a South Korean woman expressed her traumatic experience. In a phone interview conducted with ‘The Associated Press’, she shared her experience and the long lasting effects it had on her day-to-day life.
Unfortunately this is a common experience in South Korea. A large number of South Korean women are sharing their experiences with non-consensual deep fake videos and images. Reports indicate a surge in such incidents, prompting serious discussions about gender dynamics and online safety in South Korean society. A recent survey revealed that 799 students and 31 teachers fell victim to deep fake videos in 2024, highlighting the widespread nature of this issue across educational institutions. Many of these cases involve male students altering images of their female classmates, raising serious concerns about misogyny and the overall safety of women in schools.
The severity of deep fake pornography in South Korea emerged in August 2024 when an unverified list of schools with victims circulated online which then led to women and girls abruptly deleting personal content from online platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. In response to this, protests were staged demanding stronger legal protections. The surge in public awareness coincided with the arrest of Pavel Durov who was the founder of the app telegram which had facilitated the distribution of illegal content.
On September 26th, 2024, South Korea’s National Assembly passed a bill making it illegal to view or possess sexually explicit deep fake content. This new law complements existing regulations that already prohibit the creation of such materials. The law imposes severe penalties, including up to three years in prison or fines of approximately $22,600 for violations.
Experts believe that the true extent of deep fake pornography in South Korea is significantly underreported. A study by U.S. cybersecurity firm Security Hero identified South Korea as the nation most affected by deep fake pornography, with over half of the victims being South Korean celebrities. Several factors contribute to the widespread prevalence of deep fake content in the country. These include the pervasive use of smartphones, insufficient education around sex and human rights, weak social media regulations for minors, and a deeply entrenched misogynistic culture that often objectifies women.
Sources and further readings:
(2024, September 30) 799 students, 31 teachers victimised by deepfake videos in South Korea this year. Daijiworld.com. https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1231237. Accessed 24 November 2024.
Reuters. (2024, September 26). South Korea passes bill to criminalize watching sexually explicit deepfakes. ABS-CBN News. Accessed 24 November 2024.
Bahri, S. (2024, September 30). South Korea criminalises sexually explicit deepfakes. SAYS. https://says.com/my/tech/south-korea-law-against-sexually-explicit-deepfake-videos. Accessed 24 November 2024.
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