First Nationwide Training of In-House Instructors
On-Site Education and More
The Gyeongnam Office of Education has taken steps to strengthen protective measures for students and schools against new types of digital sex crimes, such as 'deepfake' and 'online grooming.'
The provincial office stated that it will conduct proactive prevention activities to stop students from being inadvertently exposed to crimes in their everyday digital environments, or from unknowingly becoming perpetrators themselves.
'Deepfake' is a portmanteau of 'deep learning' and 'fake,' referring to technology that manipulates photos or videos using artificial intelligence.
It has become a source of controversy as it is used in the production and distribution of obscene videos or images, fake news, and financial fraud.
Online grooming refers to the process where a perpetrator, much like an animal grooms itself, approaches a victim in online spaces, builds a bond, offers gifts and gains favor, and then exerts psychological and mental control before committing sex crimes.
This mainly targets minors, and often trains victims to accept sexual exploitation so naturally that they may not even recognize it as a crime.
Digital Sexual Crime Prevention Education is being conducted by the Gyeongnam Office of Education. Provided by Gyeongnam Office of Education
In response, the Gyeongnam Office of Education has become the first among all metropolitan and provincial education offices nationwide to train its own group of 'digital sex crime prevention education instructors.'
Starting in April, this instructor group will visit schools across the province that request the program and provide customized education tailored to each school level, utilizing lecture materials developed directly by the dedicated task force.
In addition, a variety of prevention campaigns will be conducted, including promotional activities during morning arrivals and lunch periods, mini-lectures via school broadcasting, and video screenings.
Furthermore, the provincial education office plans to produce its own 'online grooming prevention video' that can be viewed on smartphones and distribute it through its official social media channels, YouTube, and website.
Alongside this, work staff will receive education on the definition and types of digital sex crimes, real-life case studies, and response methods, with the content being shared among them.
Superintendent Park Jonghoon emphasized, "Digital sex crimes are serious offenses that can destroy our children's spirits, and preventing them is one of the most important duties of the Office of Education."
He added, "By providing systematic education utilizing our own instructor group and conducting various promotional activities, we will create a strong safety net to help our children grow up safely and healthily even in the digital world."
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