Controversy Over Regional Disparagement in AI-Generated Election Commission Promo Video... KBS States "No Intent"

Also Broadcast on KBS Election Coverage
Election Commission: "Considered a Simple Sigh Effect"
No Malicious Intent, but Review Process Was Insufficient

Controversy has arisen after a graphic in an official promotional video, produced with the participation of the National Election Commission, appeared to evoke expressions disparaging a specific region. This video was reportedly used not only on the official YouTube channel of the National Election Commission but also during KBS's election coverage broadcast. As the controversy spread, the National Election Commission set the video to private.

On June 4, the Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that controversy had erupted over the "Ballot Counting Observer Guide" promotional video posted on the official YouTube channel of the National Election Commission on May 28.

The production company stated that there was absolutely no intention to disparage any specific region. KBS also announced that, based on their own verification, no intent to disparage a particular region was found in the AI prompt history. However, KBS officially apologized for broadcasting the video during the election coverage. National Election Commission

According to the report, in a scene showing characters sighing as if exhausted from overnight ballot counting observation, a graphic was inserted depicting a white, translucent object escaping from around their mouths and noses. Online commenters have pointed out that this image resembles a "hongeo" (fermented skate) shape, which is sometimes used in some far-right online communities as a symbol to disparage the Honam region.

The video was reportedly produced on an outsourced basis by KBS N, a subsidiary of KBS, at the request of the National Election Commission. It was posted on the official channel of the National Election Commission and also broadcast during KBS's local election coverage. As the controversy grew, the National Election Commission made the video private on YouTube and launched an investigation into the circumstances. It is known that generative artificial intelligence (AI) was used in the production process.

The production team reportedly included a prompt in the AI video generation program stating, "A translucent, stingray-shaped soul is escaping from the mouth." As a result, criticism has arisen online that, given the visual similarity between a stingray and a hongeo, the production and review process failed to screen out an inappropriate image.

The production company stated that there was absolutely no intention to disparage any specific region. KBS also announced that, based on its own verification, no intention to disparage any specific region was found in the AI prompt history. However, KBS officially apologized for broadcasting the video during the vote counting coverage. At the end of its "News 9" broadcast, KBS said, "We deeply apologize for airing a video graphic during the vote counting coverage that could be perceived as disparaging a particular region," and announced plans for an internal investigation and to hold those responsible accountable.

The National Election Commission also denied any malicious intent but admitted that the review process was insufficient. The Commission explained that it regarded the controversial graphic as a "sigh" or "soul escaping" effect commonly used in animations or webtoons. It also acknowledged that relying on a production company affiliated with a reputable broadcaster led to complacency in the review process.

However, some argue that this incident highlights the need to strengthen review standards for generative AI outputs when producing public content related to elections. Even if there was no specific intent, as images that could be interpreted as regional disparagement were exposed in official public institution promotional materials, there is a need for a systematic inspection for hate expressions and discriminatory symbols at every stage before production and approval.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.