Actor Lee Yi-kyung Cleared of AI-Generated Scandal: A Wake-Up Call on Deepfake Misuse

Actor Lee Yi-kyung has been cleared of a scandal involving his private life just three days after it erupted. The accuser admitted that the messages were "fake, created by AI," bringing the incident to a close. This controversy highlights the severe misuse of AI technology. Experts warn that without regulatory measures, the number of victims will increase.

On the 19th, a netizen claimed to have exchanged sexually explicit messages with Lee Yi-kyung and posted about it on their blog. The messages included Lee's current social media profile picture. The post quickly spread across X (formerly Twitter), and Lee's social media was flooded with questions about the authenticity of these claims.

On the 22nd, the netizen abruptly apologized, admitting, "The messenger images were fake, created by AI." By then, Lee's image had already suffered significant damage over the three-day controversy. If the netizen's statement about the "fabricated images" is true, this incident serves as a case study of how AI can be severely misused.

Warnings Since 2017Deep learning technology in AI allows for the precise recreation of a person's face, voice, and gestures. Initially, this technology was used for content creation, such as resurrecting deceased figures. An example is the VR human documentary 'Meeting You,' aired by MBC in February 2020, where a mother met her deceased 7-year-old daughter in virtual reality through deepfake technology.

AI-generated image technology has been widely accessible to the public since 2017, leading to increased misuse in financial fraud and identity theft. In August, soccer player Son Heung-min was deepfaked as a promotional model for an illegal gambling site. The 'fake' Son in the video claimed, "Let me tell you why I recommend the ㅇㅇLand app to everyone. You can enjoy it conveniently," and "All winnings are deposited into your bank account within five minutes," with the words and lip movements closely mimicking reality.

Such deepfake videos are easily found on YouTube. Channels dedicated solely to AI-generated videos have emerged, and there are cases where AI-created figures are used to promote pharmaceuticals and health supplements as if they were real doctors or experts. Many netizens express concern, asking, "How much can we trust?"

Celebrities, Vulnerable Due to Their Public ImageIn April, deepfake videos of artists from HYBE were circulated in Telegram chat rooms. Last year, deepfake videos combining the faces of BLACKPINK and TWICE were distributed, causing public outrage.

According to the '2023 Deepfake Status' report by U.S. cybersecurity firm 'Security Hero,' 99% of victims of deepfake pornographic composites worldwide were women, with 53% being Korean. The primary victims were celebrities such as singers and actors. The report analyzed 95,820 videos distributed over two months on ten deepfake exploitation sites.

Those who spread false information using AI can face criminal and civil liability. If the content defames a specific individual, it can result in up to seven years in prison, up to ten years of disqualification, or a fine of up to 50 million won under the Information and Communications Network Act. If the content is sexual, it can lead to up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won under the revised Sexual Violence Punishment Act of September 2024, with distribution punishable by up to seven years in prison.

An IT content production company representative stated, "Celebrities are vulnerable to deepfake damage because their faces are constantly exposed," adding, "While deepfake technology has its benefits, systems and monitoring networks must be established to ensure its proper use." He emphasized the need for legislation requiring AI-generated content to include a disclaimer stating "AI-generated," and for clear legal provisions to impose severe penalties for unauthorized synthesis or distribution of others' faces or voices.

Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr