Mr. A, who produced and distributed deepfake content targeting group Espa members Karina and…
A man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for producing and selling deepfake content featuring Karina and Winter of the K-pop group Espa
- Incident date
- Jun 2026
- Target
- Karina and Winter of Espa
On June 18, 2026, SM Entertainment announced that an individual identified as Mr. A was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for producing and distributing deepfake content featuring Espa members Karina and Winter. The ruling, handed down by the Daegu High Court's first criminal department, also mandates 80 hours of sexual violence treatment and a seven-year employment restriction at institutions related to children and youth.
What happened
Mr. A targeted the Espa members by creating synthetic deepfake videos and selling them for profit. Following the incident, SM Entertainment reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy regarding criminal acts that infringe upon the rights and interests of its artists. The agency utilized fan reports and internal self-monitoring to collect thousands of pieces of evidence, including malicious posts and comments, which were submitted to investigative agencies. SM Entertainment has stated that investigations into these activities remain ongoing. Furthermore, the company is actively expanding its legal efforts to address various criminal behaviors, including the dissemination of false information, sexual harassment, and the creation of distorted or insulting content targeting the group.