Media Organizations Urge Strict Punishment for Deepfake Sexual Crimes Targeting Journalists

Members of the National Women's Solidarity and the Seoul Women's Solidarity (Preparatory Committee) held a press conference for women and mothers on the 30th in front of the Seoul Government Complex, condemning recent deepfake sex crimes and urging strong punishment and the establishment of comprehensive measures. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

On the 30th, media organizations consecutively issued statements condemning deepfake sexual crimes against journalists and urging strict punishment.

The Korean Women Journalists Association stated, "We absolutely cannot tolerate deepfake sexual crimes targeting female journalists," and urged, "Immediately commence investigations, and even if evidence is concealed or hidden, pursue the perpetrators to the end and swiftly apprehend the criminals." The Women Journalists Association emphasized that a so-called 'journalist synthesis room' creating illegal composite images by collecting information and photos of journalists who cover and report on deepfake sexual exploitation issues has been established on Telegram, saying, "This seriously infringes on the personal rights of female journalists and poses a grave threat to press freedom." They added, "Press freedom is a core value of democracy, and any act threatening it can never be tolerated," and called on the government and National Assembly to promptly prepare legislation to strengthen penalties for deepfake sexual crimes.

The Korea Journalists Association also stated, "Sexual violence crimes abusing deepfake technology are spreading even to journalists," calling it "a criminal act that seriously threatens press freedom and the safety of journalists." The association said, "Deepfake crimes are sexual offenses that disgrace specific individuals by abusing digital technology, and clear acts of violence that threaten journalists' safety and suppress press freedom," and declared, "The Korea Journalists Association strongly condemns this and requests active responses from the government and civil society to prevent recurrence as outlined below."

In the recently established Telegram 'journalist synthesis room,' posts such as "Journalists need to experience this to stop talking nonsense. Should we start with journalist OOO for intelligent (acquaintance defamation) abuse? Once we get the photos, production starts immediately. Just because they're male doesn't mean they can't be (defamed). Gender equality," were made, mentioning specific journalists' names from certain media outlets, mocking their appearances, threatening them, and even generating photos that composite victims' faces with sexual images.