Authorities vow 'strict punishment' for the creation, spread of AI deepfake videos ahead of elections
Published: 26 Feb. 2026, 17:08
Updated: 26 Feb. 2026, 18:09
![Koo Ja-hyun, acting prosecutor general, speaks during a press conference at government complex in central Seoul on Feb. 26. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/26/832dcf0d-a5b1-4983-b604-fb33dc2b1a94.jpg)
Koo Ja-hyun, acting prosecutor general, speaks during a press conference at government complex in central Seoul on Feb. 26. [NEWS1]
With less than four months left before the June 3 local elections, prosecutors and police on Thursday vowed to track down and punish those who create and spread AI deepfake videos and false information about the elections.
Acting Prosecutor General Koo Ja-hyun and Acting National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoo Jae-sung delivered a joint statement after attending a ministerial meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok at the government complex in Jongno District, central Seoul.
Korea is set to elect local government leaders, including metropolitan and provincial governors, mayors and members of local councils, in the June 3 local elections.
“Recent advances in AI technology have made deepfake videos and other false information so sophisticated that people can hardly tell them apart from real footage,” Koo said on Thursday. “Such false information damages reputations, creates social confusion and can cause harm that cannot be undone.”
He warned that fake news related to the June 3 local elections could surge.
“Black propaganda, including the spread of false information, directly affects voters’ fair judgment by providing incorrect information,” he said.
Black propaganda refers to false or misleading information spread to damage an opponent’s reputation or influence public opinion during an election.
"Prosecutors will use forensic tools and all available investigative methods to find those responsible, including people who use overseas servers. We will prosecute these crimes and seek strict punishment so they do not spread in our society."
The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office formed teams dedicated to election investigations at prosecutors’ offices nationwide last month and put an emergency response system in place. It also plans to hold a meeting of chief prosecutors in charge of election cases to discuss response measures.
Acting National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoo echoed the tough stance.
![Yoo Jae-sung, the acting commissioner general of the National Police, speaks during a press conference at the government complex in central Seoul on Feb. 26. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/26/04cea19e-ddc4-4b72-90a9-25a84a162b6a.jpg)
Yoo Jae-sung, the acting commissioner general of the National Police, speaks during a press conference at the government complex in central Seoul on Feb. 26. [NEWS1]
“We will apply a zero-tolerance principle against fabricated information that undermines election fairness and democratic order,” Yoo said. “We will trace distribution channels and strictly punish both the original creators and those who first spread the content.”
Police began operating a task force on false information in October last year.
For major cases, metropolitan police agencies rather than local stations will lead investigations. Since Feb. 3, police nationwide have formed specialized teams to crack down on election-related crimes, including the spread of false information.
Authorities tightened enforcement as AI-generated deepfakes emerged as a growing threat to election integrity.
The National Election Commission requested the deletion of 388 deepfake videos during the 2024 general elections, but that figure rose to 10,510 during last year’s presidential election.
![Models demonstrate LG Uplus’s AI anti-deepfake technology during an AI security technology briefing at the LG building in central Seoul on June 26, 2025. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/02/26/0948bf7e-dfd4-4cf6-81a6-2143947a7f6e.jpg)
Models demonstrate LG Uplus’s AI anti-deepfake technology during an AI security technology briefing at the LG building in central Seoul on June 26, 2025. [NEWS1]
President Lee Jae Myung also became a target. In April last year, about two months before the presidential election, officials received a report about a deepfake video showing Lee berating his wife, Kim Hea Kyung, with abusive language.
Under the Public Official Election Act, those who manipulate videos to help elect or defeat a specific candidate can face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won ($21,000).
A 2023 revision to the Public Official Election Act bans the use of deepfake videos in election campaigns starting 90 days before the election day. For the June 3 local elections, the restriction begins on March 5.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM SEONG-JIN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)