Son Heung-min deepfake video — Oct 2026

The Korea Football Association (KFA) has announced a firm stance against the proliferation of malicious rumors and AI-generated content targeting national team captain Son Heung-min. Following a series of international matches, baseless claims regarding internal team discord and the alleged ostracization of Son have circulated widely online, leading to significant harassment of several players.

What happened

Amidst speculative reports regarding the internal dynamics of the South Korean national football team, certain individuals began creating and distributing deepfake videos. These videos utilize artificial intelligence to fabricate false narratives, specifically alleging that players including Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae, Hwang Hee-chan, and Hwang In-beom orchestrated efforts to ostracize Son Heung-min.

These deepfakes, combined with unverified "stock market rumors" and speculative gossip, have fueled a wave of online criticism and malicious comments directed at the players involved. The KFA issued an official statement on October 13, 2026, expressing deep concern over the impact of this misinformation. The association characterized the use of AI to distort facts and defame players as illegal. Furthermore, the KFA warned that it will respond sternly to the unauthorized use of its intellectual property—specifically videos and photos—when used to spread distorted information or generate unfair profit. The organization has called for an immediate end to these personal attacks and the dissemination of groundless claims, emphasizing that such illegal activities will face legal consequences.