Three years after being victimized by fake explicit images online, a 30-year-old South Korean woman is still dealing with the trauma, struggling to interact with men and even use her phone. Though the images were digitally manipulated, they deeply affected her. "It completely trampled me, even though it wasn’t a direct physical attack," she said in an interview, choosing to remain anonymous for privacy reasons.

She is one of many women in South Korea enduring the consequences of non-consensual deepfake pornography, which predominantly targets women and girls. The perpetrators are often teenage boys, who victimize female friends, relatives, or acquaintances. These actions, sometimes done out of curiosity or misogyny, have raised serious concerns about sex education and deepened gender divides in the country.

The issue gained widespread attention in August when unverified lists of schools with victims surfaced online. In response, many young women erased their social media profiles, and protests erupted demanding tougher measures against digital sexual crimes. Sociology professor Shin Kyung-ah highlighted how trust among teenage girls has been shattered, as they worry that their male classmates could be involved in creating or distributing such content.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has acknowledged a surge in deepfake content circulating on social media, and police have launched a seven-month crackdown. To date, 387 suspects have been detained, 80% of whom are teenagers. Additionally, Telegram, a platform often linked to illicit activities, has pledged to adopt a zero-tolerance policy on illegal deepfake content.

Experts believe the issue is more widespread than reported. U.S. cybersecurity firm Security Hero identified South Korea as the most targeted country by deepfake pornography, with South Korean celebrities making up over half of the global deepfake content.

In response to growing public pressure, the South Korean parliament recently passed a law making it illegal to watch or possess deepfake pornography. Despite the new law, many victims continue to suffer. One victim attempted suicide to escape the torment, while another collapsed after receiving deepfake images and being told by her perpetrators that she was being stalked.

The 30-year-old woman interviewed by The Associated Press described how her life unraveled after she was targeted. Her doctoral studies were disrupted, and she was diagnosed with panic disorder and PTSD in 2022. Police have detained five men for allegedly producing and spreading fake explicit images of about 20 women, including her. All victims were graduates of Seoul National University, and some of the perpetrators were former classmates.

The emotional toll of deepfake crimes is severe. The woman explained how her social media photos were combined with nude images of strangers to create fake explicit content. Though the images were crudely made, the fact that they were shared among a chatroom of 42 people, some of whom she likely knew, left her humiliated. She now finds it difficult to trust men and says her personality has changed since the incident, making her life more challenging.

South Korea has experienced a surge in digital sex crimes in recent years, from spy cam videos in public places to deepfake pornography. Critics argue that authorities have been slow to respond, and many convicted of deepfake crimes avoid prison. Less than a third of those indicted since 2021 have been sentenced to jail, with many receiving suspended sentences or fines.

The crisis reflects deeper gender issues in South Korea, where gender roles, workplace discrimination, and military service obligations contribute to social tensions. Many young women now live in fear, like 17-year-old Kim Haeun, who removed all her photos from Instagram and avoids unfamiliar boys. "Most sex crimes target women, and when they happen, I think we are often helpless," she said.

As South Korea confronts the deepfake pornography crisis, victims, lawmakers, and activists are calling for stronger laws and greater awareness to protect women from further harm. The emotional scars left by these digital crimes remain raw, and the need for action is more urgent than ever to restore trust and safety in the digital world.