South Korean court sentences men to prison for deepfake pornography of university women
A South Korean court sentenced two men to prison for creating and distributing deepfake pornography of women, including at least 61 victims from Seoul National University. The 10-year sentence was reported as the most severe penalty yet imposed for deepfake crimes in South Korea, with the court finding the defendants' actions caused victims ongoing trauma and psychological harm.
What happened
Between July 2021 and April 2024, a 40-year-old man surnamed Park created approximately 100 deepfake pornographic videos and distributed around 1,700 such videos online. Park and his 30-something accomplice Kang targeted alumni from Seoul National University, the institution both men attended, using images from the social messaging app KakaoTalk to generate the fabricated content.
On October 30, 2024, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Park to 10 years in prison and Kang to 4 years. The court identified 61 victims, including at least 12 from Seoul National University.
Reported impact
According to the court ruling, victims lived in fear and anxiety, suspecting all male acquaintances. The court stated that victims had to live in constant unease and recovery from their trauma was nearly impossible.
One victim reported receiving a barrage of Telegram messages in 2021 containing deepfake images showing her being sexually assaulted. She had rarely interacted with Park while at university but had thought he was gentle.
Index analysis
The 10-year sentence was the most severe penalty handed down for deepfake crimes in South Korea as of the court's ruling, according to lawyer Song Ji-eun who represented 15 victims.
Park reportedly made statements while creating the deepfake videos such as 'rape is the answer for feminists'. The court described the defendants' actions as 'highly reproachable' for having sexually molested and insulted the victims' character over a long period.
Governance controls
South Korea's sexual violence prevention act was cited in the indictment against Park and Kang. Since deepfake crimes became punishable in South Korea in 2020, typical punishments have included fines or probation with low prosecution rates, though the court noted the need for strict punishment of deepfake crimes.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.