Deepfake Porn Crisis in South Korea: Destroying Lives and Calling for Action

In South Korea, deepfake porn is wreaking havoc on the lives of countless individuals, with devastating consequences for its victims. This cutting-edge technology allows malicious actors to manipulate images and videos, creating fake explicit content that feels alarmingly real. For many, the nightmare begins when they learn their faces have been digitally superimposed onto pornographic material without their consent.

Ruma, a university student, experienced this harrowing invasion of privacy in 2021. While enjoying lunch one summer day, she opened her phone to find it flooded with messages. What she saw shocked her to the core: photos of her face, taken from her social media accounts, had been edited onto naked bodies and shared in a Telegram chat room. The comments accompanying these images were deeply demeaning, taunting her with insults. The harassment didn’t stop there. The anonymous sender threatened to distribute the images more widely and boasted that the police would never catch them. For Ruma, it felt like her world had been turned upside down.

Sadly, Ruma’s experience is far from unique. In a society where digital sex crimes have already plagued South Korea—ranging from hidden cameras in public places to blackmail in online chat rooms—the rise of deepfake pornography presents a new and terrifying threat. The crisis is particularly severe in schools, where over 900 students, teachers, and staff reported being victims of deepfake sex crimes in 2022 alone. These figures don’t even account for university students, who have also been affected by this growing menace.

To combat this crisis, South Korea’s government has taken action. In response to the widespread issue, an emergency task force was created, and new legislation was passed in September 2022. The law now mandates severe penalties for those who create or distribute non-consensual deepfake pornography—up to seven years in prison for offenders. Possessing or viewing such material can lead to up to three years behind bars, or a fine of up to 30 million won (roughly $20,000). Despite these legal advancements, the reality is grim. In 2022, police only arrested 23 people out of the 964 deepfake-related sex crime cases reported. Many victims, including Ruma, have had to take matters into their own hands.

Ruma, who was just 27 years old when her ordeal began, said the incident completely shattered her trust in the world. “It broke my whole belief system about the world,” she explained. “The fact that they could use such vulgar, rough images to humiliate and violate you to that extreme extent really damages you almost irrevocably.”

Despite being told by police that they would struggle to get the necessary data from Telegram, she decided to take action. After hearing that other investigations had stalled due to difficulties in identifying suspects, she sought the help of activist Won Eun-ji. Known for her role in exposing South Korea’s largest digital sex crime network on Telegram, Won stepped in to help. Using a fake Telegram account, she infiltrated the chat room where the deepfake images of Ruma circulated. For nearly two years, Won gathered evidence, carefully engaging with users before coordinating with police for a sting operation.

The operation ultimately led to the arrest of two former students from Seoul National University (SNU). One of them was sentenced to nine years in prison for creating and distributing the deepfake material, while the other received a 3.5-year sentence. However, Ruma’s fight is far from over. “I didn’t expect the ruling to align exactly with the prosecution’s request,” she said. “I’m happy, but this is only the first trial. I don’t feel entirely relieved yet.”

Ruma’s case sheds light on the far-reaching and devastating impact of digital sex crimes. In many instances, the police have been slow to act, leaving victims to fend for themselves.

One high school teacher, identified only as Kim for her privacy, shared her own distressing experience. In July 2023, she learned from a student that explicit, digitally altered photos of her were circulating online. These images, which manipulated her appearance and added her face to nude bodies, were a cruel violation of her privacy. “My hands started to shake,” Kim recalled. “When could this photo have been taken, and who would upload such a thing?”

The police’s response to Kim was no more reassuring. They explained that identifying the perpetrator could only be done by requesting user information from Twitter (now rebranded as X). With concerns about the process taking too long, Kim and a colleague, also a victim of secret filming, launched their own investigation. Eventually, they discovered that the culprit was a quiet, introverted student—someone they never would have suspected.

Kim’s case highlights the lack of empathy often shown by the public toward victims of deepfake pornography. “I read a lot of articles and comments about deepfakes saying, ‘Why is it a serious crime when it’s not even your real body?’” she lamented. The societal apathy surrounding digital sex crimes only makes it easier for perpetrators to exploit their victims, often with little fear of consequence.

Activists like Won argue that South Korea’s long-standing failure to enforce laws against digital exploitation has fueled the growth of a toxic online environment. The rise of “acquaintance humiliation”—where perpetrators share manipulated photos and personal information of women they know—has left many victims living in constant fear for their safety.

The responsibility also lies with online platforms, which continue to be hotspots for illegal activities. Telegram, in particular, has been criticized for its failure to moderate content and share user data with authorities. While the company announced plans to crack down on illegal content and has begun cooperating with South Korean authorities, there are still significant concerns. In January 2023, police in Seoul successfully obtained data from Telegram, leading to the arrest of 14 people involved in a major deepfake pornography ring. While this marks a small victory, many victims feel that the fight is far from over.

For victims like Ruma and Kim, the fight against digital sex crimes is far from over. They continue to push for stricter punishments for perpetrators and more support for victims. “No matter how much punishments are strengthened, there are still far more victims who suffer because their perpetrators have not been caught,” Ruma said. “There’s a long way to go.”

As the South Korean government and activists work to address this growing crisis, the battle against deepfake pornography will require ongoing vigilance, stricter enforcement, and a societal shift to ensure that victims receive the justice they deserve.