Deepfake Law in South Korea
South Korea passed some of the strictest deepfake legislation in the world in 2024, criminalizing creation and possession of non-consensual sexual deepfakes with penalties up to seven years.
- Status
- enacted
- Jurisdiction
- South Korea
- Effective
- Sep 2024
- Statute
- Sexual Violence Crimes Act (amended 2024)
In September 2024, following an epidemic of deepfake abuse targeting schoolchildren and college students, South Korea passed what may be the strictest deepfake legislation in any major economy. Creation, possession, and distribution of non-consensual sexual deepfakes are criminal offenses with penalties up to seven years imprisonment.
Key provisions
Sexual Violence Crimes Act (amended September 2024). Specifically criminalizes:
- Creation of non-consensual sexual deepfake material — up to five years imprisonment and ~$35,000 fine.
- Possession of such material — up to three years imprisonment.
- Distribution or viewing — up to seven years imprisonment.
- Penalties increase for content involving minors or for commercial exploitation.
Notably, possession is criminalized, which is stricter than most jurisdictions — even merely saving non-consensual deepfake imagery to a device is a criminal offense.
Information and Communications Network Act. Takedown obligations on platforms for non-consensual imagery, including AI-generated.
Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Biometric data provisions.
Context — the 2024 crisis
The 2024 legislation was driven by widespread revelations that Telegram rooms were operating within South Korea specifically producing and trading deepfake sexual imagery of schoolchildren. Investigation found hundreds of schools affected and thousands of victims, many minors.
The social and political response was intense. The 2024 amendments passed with rare cross-party support and were implemented within months of the initial revelations.
Enforcement
Korean National Police Agency has a dedicated cybercrime division; prosecutions under the new provisions have been active since late 2024. International cooperation (Interpol, with Telegram) has improved following diplomatic pressure.
Practical implications
For organizations operating in or accessible from South Korea:
- AI service providers: extremely strict environment; any service that could produce non-consensual sexual content is regulatory-risk-heavy.
- Platforms: takedown obligations are aggressive; compliance infrastructure must be robust.
- Individuals: personal-use possession is criminal. This is unusual globally.
South Korea is often cited alongside the UK as the strictest deepfake jurisdiction among democracies.