South Korean police arrest 1,506 in AI-generated deepfake sexual abuse crackdown
South Korean police arrested 1,506 suspects over six months in a crackdown on cyber sexual violence, including deepfake sexual abuse material. Nearly 78 percent of those arrested were teenagers and adults in their twenties, with one case involving deepfake creation targeting student photos.
What happened
South Korean police conducted a six-month intensive crackdown from November 2025 to mid-June 2026 on cyber sex crimes, detecting 1,446 cases and arresting 1,506 suspects, of whom 87 were detained.
The crackdown targeted production and distribution of non-consensual sexual images and deepfake sexual content. Police arrested operators of eight illegal websites that distributed 120,000 abusive images and videos, as well as three 'box room' operators who used Telegram private channels to circulate sexually exploitative material and personal information.
One suspect used deepfake technology to create sexual videos using students' photographs and impersonated law enforcement to extort money; this suspect was arrested in Malaysia through international cooperation.
Reported impact
Of 1,506 arrested suspects, approximately 78 percent were in their teens and twenties. Teenagers accounted for 46.9 percent of those arrested (723 individuals aged 10-19), with the age group treating the crime casually despite its severity.
Index analysis
Police used undercover operations in 377 cases over six months, a 246 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.
Police worked with international partners, conducting a coordinated operation with seven Asian countries including Singapore from March to April 2026 that resulted in 225 arrests of child sexual abuse material offenders.
Governance controls
Police partnered with the Broadcasting and Communications Committee and victim support centers to delete or block 37,687 instances of abusive imagery, a 49 percent increase from the same period the previous year.
Police coordinated with the United States to leverage the Take It Down law, which requires platforms to remove non-consensual sexual images within 48 hours.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.