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The K-pop community fandoms united online as the ongoing deepfake s*x crime scandal reportedly engulfed South Korea. On August 28, The Guardian reported that over 297 cases of deepfake videos and pictures of a s*xual nature were distributed online targeting South Korean women and K-pop idols.
Digital s*x crimes are on the rise in South Korea, where hundreds of women and girls are being targeted by deepfake p*rno*raphic photos that are disseminated online. Reportedly, there are 220,000 male members in one group purportedly sharing these photos. By July 2024, the number of deepfake incidents that have been reported alone increased from 156 in 2021 to 297 in 2024.
For the unversed, deepfake is a digital alteration of a person's face by using Artificial intelligence (AI) that mimics the individual in a digital video. Reportedly, several K-pop idols and groups like BLACKPINK's Jennie, Lisa, IILIT, ITZY, TWICE, Jessi, IU, IVE, Red Velvet's Irene, and more have been targeted in this scandal.
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K-pop fandoms banded together and trended several hashtags and phrases on X such as "JYP PROTECT YOUR ARTIST," "LLOUD PROTECT YOUR ARTIST," and more to shield the artists from the rampant digital se*ual crime.
On e X user wrote,
"This is so scary, I hope ALL companies take steps to protect their female idols!"
Fans also raised concerns about K-pop groups consisting of minors such as BABYMONSTER, IILIT, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, and more, being victims of digital s*x crime videos and p*rno*raphy.
"Regardless of which group we stan we should all stand together against this. Today it is them, tomorrow it'll be someone else. 4/7 babymonster is minor, enough to explain the intensity of the situation. Let's keep the fanwars side for the time being and protect our female idols!!" one X user wrote.
"SK should be mindful because years of hardwork can just disappear in a day affecting those who built their nation with good intentions and dignity. BUT the call should be universal: all men from all countries that objectify and made women and girls unsafe," another X user added.
"Also remember to send an email to the companies with the graphics - there's always a chance the company (whichever you're adressing) will see it. I've set one like this to sse (in kr) - and if anyone wants to use my text to copy/paste lmk," another X user said.
Others highlighted how entertainment companies should stop debuting minor girls and boys (aged below 21) as K-pop idols and exposing them to such vicious crimes.
"All MAMAMOO member AI generated explicit photos are in the chat. Not to mention groups with literally minors," one fan highlighted.
"For the record when i say children shouldn’t be idols this is exactly why. like no it’s not the fault of the children but why can’t companies understand the things they’re willfully opening these children up to? no matter how you style them or how appropriate the concept is," another X user said.
"That website is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen. my heart is breaking for female idols and I hope never ever come across anything like this. men making it easier to hate them every single day like omg. I’ve reported the website in any possible way I can," one other K-pop fan said.
South Korea engulfed by the deep fake s*x crime; President calls for immediate investigation to curb it
A 2023 worldwide analysis of deepfakes by Security Hero, a U.S. business focusing on identity theft prevention, stated that deepfakes in South Korea targeted over 53% of female singers and actresses. Over 60% of the reported cases were minors aged below 21 years.
Koreaboo reported that The Wall Street Journal revealed a Security Hero research that stated that South Korea currently has over 96,000 explicit videos distributed online. They are from 10 deepfake p*rn sites and 85 deepfake channels on video-sharing platforms in over 2 months. Reportedly, several videos consisted of Korean singers and actresses.
BBC reported that on August 24, 2024, Telegram app founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested on charges of s*x trafficking, drug smuggling, and fraud. South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, ordered an immediate investigation into the matter and declared an emergency that requires utmost vigilance.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch reported that South Korea's digital s*x crime caught global attention when a Telegram chatroom with 220,000 male users surfaced online, creating and disseminating explicit content targeting Seoul National University's female students.
Meanwhile, Korean entertainment company, JYP Entertainment declared that they would take legal action against violators attempting to target its artists in the ongoing digital s*x crimes.
"We are gravely concerned about the recent spread of deepfake (AI-generated) videos involving our artists. This is a blatant violation of the law, and we are in the process of collecting all relevant evidence to pursue the strongest legal action with a leading law firm, without leniency."
They continued,
"We want to make it clear that we will not stand by while our artists’ rights are violated and will take decisive action to address this matter to the fullest extent possible."
The South Korean ruling party, People Power Party (PPP), agreed to raise the maximum sentence for perpetrators planning to create and distribute s*xually explicit digital s*x crime materials from 5 to 7 years in jail.
