South Korea Ramps Up Fight Against Deepfake Porn Crisis
Advanced | June 9, 2025
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South Korea Deepfake Porn Laws: A Disturbing Surge in Digital Sex Crimes
Deepfake Content Fuels New Wave of Victim Reports
South Korea is facing a growing crisis involving deepfake pornography and digital sex crimes. The country’s newly enforced South Korea deepfake porn laws aim to combat this surge through tougher penalties and broader definitions of illegal content.
There has been a sharp increase in reported cases. The rapid spread of AI-generated explicit content has raised serious concerns about the impact on victims. These include young women and minors. As a result, officials are calling for stronger legal protections and better technology-based solutions.
A Crisis Escalates in 2024
The problem isn’t new. However, it has dramatically worsened recently. More than 10,000 victims sought help in 2024. That marks a significant jump from the previous year.
This sharp rise has increased scrutiny of the effectiveness of South Korea deepfake porn laws. The ease of creating convincing fake images and videos using AI has contributed to the crisis. These materials spread quickly on messaging apps and online platforms.
Authorities are scrambling to contain the situation. Policymakers emphasize that new laws alone are not enough—they must also improve enforcement and international cooperation.
Legislative Action and Calls for Tougher Penalties
In response, South Korea has taken significant steps to reinforce its legal framework. Late last year and into early 2025, the National Assembly passed revisions to laws aimed at cracking down harder on offenders.
Crucially, the revised laws now criminalize not just the creation and distribution of deepfake pornography, but also the possession, purchase, storage, or even just viewing of such content if done knowingly. This marks a major shift, acknowledging that simply consuming this illegal material contributes to the problem. Penalties for possessing or viewing can include up to three years in prison or hefty fines.
For those who produce or distribute this harmful content, the maximum prison sentence has been increased from five years to seven years, signaling a much tougher stance from the government and lawmakers. Mandatory minimum sentences have also been introduced for specific offenses like using deepfakes for blackmail.
Beyond Legislation: Enforcement Challenges and Future Plans
Beyond these legislative changes, the government has announced further measures. These include expanding undercover online investigations, even for cases involving adult victims, and working to confiscate profits made from deepfake porn businesses.
Addressing the crisis isn’t straightforward. A significant challenge lies in the fact that many of the platforms and websites circulating this illegal content are hosted overseas. This makes it difficult for South Korean authorities to take them down effectively. There are also ongoing efforts to improve cooperation with global platforms like Telegram to tackle the spread of these materials.
Vocabulary
- Grappling (verb): Dealing with a difficult problem or situation.
*Example: “The government is grappling with the economic fallout from the pandemic.”
- Surge (noun): A sudden powerful forward or upward movement, or a sudden large increase.
*Example: “There has been a surge in online shopping.” - Devastating (adjective): Highly destructive or damaging.
*Example: “The news of the job losses was devastating for the community.” - Minors (noun): Persons under the age of full legal responsibility.
*Example: “Laws are in place to protect minors online.” - Scrambling (verb): Making a quick, energetic, and disorderly struggle to do something.
*Example: “Scientists are scrambling to find a cure for the disease.” - Contain (verb): Keep something harmful under control or within limits.
*Example: “They are working to contain the spread of the virus.” - Reinforce (verb): Strengthen or support (an object or substance), especially with additional material, or strengthen (an existing feeling, idea, or habit).
*Example: “The new evidence helped to reinforce her argument.” - Framework (noun): A basic structure underlying a system, concept, or text.
*Example: “The report provides a framework for future research.” - Crucially (adverb): In a way that is of decisive importance.
*Example: “Crucially, the new safety measures were implemented immediately.” - Hefty (adjective): Large, heavy, and powerful, or (of a sum of money) considerably large.
*Example: “He received a hefty fine for parking illegally.”
Discussion Questions (About the Article)
- What makes the current situation in South Korea regarding deepfake porn a “crisis”?
- What significant change did the recent legal revisions introduce regarding deepfake content?
- Besides legislative changes, what other steps is the South Korean government planning?
- According to the article, what is a major challenge in combating the spread of illegal deepfake content?
- How have the penalties for producing or distributing deepfake porn changed?
Discussion Questions (About the Topic)
- How does the rise of deepfake technology impact privacy in the digital age?
- What are the potential consequences for victims of deepfake sexual abuse?
- Do you think criminalizing the viewing of illegal content is an effective measure? Why or why not?
- How might international cooperation be improved to tackle online crimes like the distribution of deepfake pornography hosted overseas?
- What role do you think social media platforms should play in preventing the spread of harmful deepfake content?
Related Idiom
“Ramp up”
Meaning: Increase the level of something significantly.
Example: The company decided to “ramp up” production to meet the sudden increase in demand.
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This article was inspired by: CNN, April 26, 2025
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