100+ Men Arrested For Creating Deepfake Porn Of Over 100 Female Stars
Over 100 men have been arrested after getting caught producing and distributing deepfake porn content of more than 100 female stars — including K-Pop idols, actresses, and streamers.
The Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency revealed that 23 individuals who ran private chat rooms on Telegram had been charged with violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sexual Offenses and the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.
Of those, 13 have been formally charged and detained. An additional 60 users who participated in these chat rooms have also been identified and arrested.
The main suspect, a man in his 30s referred to as “Mr. A,” reportedly created over 1,100 deepfake videos between August last year and March this year. The videos were centered on around 30 celebrities, many of whom were members of girl groups. These were then shared within secret Telegram channels, often targeting fellow “fans.”
Some chatroom members reportedly used the videos to sexually mock celebrities or even took obscene photos at fan sign events using life-size cutouts of idols.
Another suspect, “Mr. B,” also in his 30s, created around 150 deepfake videos involving more than 70 celebrities, including idols, actresses, and streamers. He went a step further by using “deep voice” technology to manipulate the audio, making it appear as though the stars were speaking in vulgar or obscene language.
A third man, “Mr. C,” allegedly produced over 300 fake videos featuring non-celebrities — including former classmates from middle school — and shared them within these same chatrooms.
Most of the suspects were unemployed young men in their teens and twenties, with some reportedly receiving government welfare. Authorities noted that many operated anonymously and for no financial gain, driven instead by “personal fantasies” and a desire for “validation” from their peers.
Chatroom participants assumed that deepfake videos of celebrities wouldn’t be investigated or, even if they were, the punishment would be light. But digital sex crimes severely disrupt victims’ everyday lives, and we are committed to eradicating them.
— Kim Jeong Hyeon, head of the cyber crime unit
The police say they tracked the suspects using a combination of undercover operations and international cooperation. They emphasized that monitoring of Telegram and other platforms will continue and that they intend to arrest everyone involved.
