Protecting Girls from Sexual Deepfakes in South Korea: Laws, Challenges, and Strategies for Better Protection
摘要
In South Korea, the proliferation of sexual deepfakes targeting girls has become a pressing socio-legal issue, evidenced by a 2024 scandal that revealed the widespread victimization of female students across multiple schools. These harms are perpetuated by a deeply misogynistic culture that normalizes the production and circulation of sexual deepfakes, enabling their use as instruments of oppression against girls. In response to this problem, South Korea has introduced a series of criminal provisions addressing sexual deepfakes, together with measures designed to protect and support victims. Yet despite these legislative efforts, significant gaps remain in effectively safeguarding girls targeted by synthetic sexual imagery. This chapter identifies shortcomings in the protection of girls that the laws purport to provide and advances a set of strategies — including strengthened victim-support systems within schools, specialized police training, and educational initiatives aimed at confronting entrenched misogyny — to ensure that their legally guaranteed rights are effectively protected.