AI-generated fake images of Celebrity lead to criminal charges in South Korea
AI-generated images depicting South Korean celebrity Im Yuna as pregnant were created and shared online in June and September 2026. SM Entertainment filed criminal charges against those responsible for creating and distributing the synthetic images, stating it would pursue the case without settlement.
What happened
AI-generated synthetic images depicting South Korean celebrity Im Yuna as pregnant were created and spread on social media and online communities in June 2026 and again in September 2026.
The images showed her face digitally combined with a pregnant body, sometimes accompanied by a man, without her consent.
Reported impact
SM Entertainment stated that the synthetic images and associated false claims caused harm to the artist's rights and reputation.
The company indicated the images violated portrait rights and constituted defamation and illegal deepfake creation under South Korean law.
Governance controls
SM Entertainment established a reporting platform called 'KWANGYA 119' to collect complaints from fans and conduct ongoing monitoring of illegal content.
The company stated it would pursue criminal charges without settlement or leniency, and warned that creating, sharing, or reposting the images could violate South Korean laws on defamation, portrait rights, and deepfake creation.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.