Gravestone Vandalism Scare Triggered by AI Image
CCTV Installed at Eunhasu Park in Sejong
Democratic Party: "We Must Protect the Deceased's Honor"
A photo claiming that former Prime Minister Lee Haechan's gravesite had been vandalized spread online, but it was revealed to be a composite image created using artificial intelligence (AI). The Democratic Party of Korea installed closed-circuit (CCTV) cameras around the gravesite to protect the deceased's reputation from fake news.
On the 5th, Democratic Party Representative Choi Minhee posted on her social networking service (SNS), "We are installing CCTV at Representative Lee Haechan's gravesite," along with a photo showing installation work underway at Eunhasu Park in Sanul-dong, Sejong City. The gravesite is where the remains of the deceased, who was buried there on January 31, are interred.
The Democratic Party of Korea has taken action by installing closed-circuit (CCTV) cameras around the gravesite to protect the deceased's reputation from fake news. Representative Choi Minhee's Facebook.
Representative Choi wrote, "The photo of the vandalized gravestone that was posted a few days ago on the far-right community Ilgan Best (Ilbe) was fake news. Still, I could not hide my shock," explaining that, despite the possibility of manipulation, they had to respond to the risk of actual vandalism. The installation of the CCTV cameras was reportedly led by Lee Kangjin, head of the Democratic Party's Sejong City Gap District Committee.
The problematic photo claimed that "the gravestone of former Prime Minister Lee Haechan has been vandalized." However, according to the Sejong City Facilities Management Corporation, the image was confirmed to be an AI-generated composite, not a real photograph. Above all, the grave marker has not yet been installed; at present, only chrysanthemums and a simple information sign are in place. The Facilities Management Corporation pointed out, "It appears that the image was manipulated through AI compositing based on a temporary marker that the bereaved family used and then removed," adding, "Political distortion of images inflicts deep wounds on both the bereaved family and citizens." The corporation went on to say, "We are also considering legal action, including cooperating with investigative authorities, against the intentional dissemination of false images."
Composite image of the damaged grave marker plaque of former Prime Minister Lee Haechan (left) and the actual grave marker. Photo by Sejong City Facilities Management Corporation
Such AI-manipulated images have recently emerged as a serious social problem. What used to be AI composites focused mainly on celebrities' private lives and gossip is now spreading to politicians and memorial sites. This incident goes beyond a simple mishap, prompting calls for the ethical use of AI technology, responsibility on the part of information consumers, and the establishment of social standards.
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