On the 18th, the Communications Review Committee's Subcommittee on Communications voted to promptly review and block access to two deepfake videos targeting President Yoon Suk-yeol and Kim Keon-hee.
The videos subject to review that day totaled five. Of these, three had already been blocked by Google and were thus dismissed, while the remaining two, still in circulation, were blocked due to the high possibility of causing social chaos.
Commissioner Kim Jeong-su noted, “If deepfake videos circulate during the impeachment period without regard for party affiliation, tremendous chaos will ensue,” emphasizing the need for early blocking. Commissioner Gang Kyung-pil also argued, “The title of the video itself, which suggests urgent arrests of the presidential couple, is 100% false,” asserting the necessity of blocking.
Chairperson Ryu Hee-rim mentioned a past instance in which the committee blocked a false manipulation photo of former President Moon Jae-in, stating, “Thorough monitoring and swift response to deepfakes are necessary.”
Earlier, on the 15th, a deepfake video synthesizing the faces of President Yoon and his spouse was screened at the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Square, leading to widespread controversy. The presidential office filed charges against the distributor of the video for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.