"I Now Doubt My Students"... Teachers Devastated by Student Deepfake Scandal

"Tears in Court, Fear Even of Group Photos"

"Severe Punishment Needed Even for Minors"

Prosecutors Seek Prison Sentence for Teen Who Created and Distributed Sexual Exploitation Materials

"I loved the children more than anyone, but now I find myself doubting my own students."

Teachers who have suffered from deepfake (fabricated video) sexual crimes committed by their students voiced the devastation of their daily lives in court. On this day, prosecutors sought a prison sentence for a teenager who created deepfake sexual exploitation materials targeting five teachers and distributed them via social networking services (SNS).

On June 8, Yonhap News reported that, during a sentencing hearing presided over by Judge Lee Changkyung of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 1, the prosecution requested an indeterminate prison sentence ranging from three years and six months to two years for teenage defendant A, who was charged under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes for editing and distributing fabricated videos. Under the Juvenile Act, minors under 19 years of age may be sentenced to indeterminate terms, with upper and lower bounds for their prison terms.

The prosecution explained the sentencing request by stating, "Even taking into account the defendant's age and admission of guilt, it is impossible to undo the harm caused by creating deepfakes targeting teachers and sending some of them to third parties. There is a need for severe punishment."

Three out of the five victimized teachers appeared in court in person on this day and testified about the aftereffects they have been suffering since the crime.

One teacher said, "I am now afraid even of taking group photos, and every time I stand in front of the classroom, I feel uncomfortable under the students' gaze." The teacher added, "I am barely enduring with psychiatric counseling and medication. I urge the court to impose the maximum sentence, so that the fact the defendant is a minor does not serve as a shield for these actions."

Another teacher confessed that their sense of values regarding their profession had been shattered. "As a teacher, my role is to show children how to live and guide them in the right direction, so I wanted to be close to them," the teacher said, breaking into tears. "Now that my values as a teacher have collapsed, it feels as if I've lost even my purpose in life."

The victimized teachers emphasized that once digital sexual abuse material spreads online, it is virtually impossible to delete it completely.

One teacher said, "I've undergone months of counseling, but even the smallest 'click' sound, or hearing the word 'deepfake,' makes my heart sink. I, who once loved the children more than anyone, am now forced to doubt my students." The teacher continued, "For more than 30 years to come, I will have to teach children at the frontlines carrying this fear and distrust. Because of the nature of digital sex crimes, this trauma will follow me for the rest of my life."

Defendant A's attorney stated, "Given the defendant's age at the time of the incident, it may have been a result of sexual curiosity and impulsiveness. While it is true that not all actions can be justified by youth, I ask the court to consider the defendant's potential for rehabilitation."

In his final statement, defendant A said, "Since this incident, I have reflected on my every action. I am truly sorry," offering an apology.

Defendant A, who was a middle school student in August 2024, was indicted on charges of using artificial intelligence (AI) to superimpose the faces of five teachers onto nude images and then distributing them via SNS.

It was found that defendant A had meticulously carried out the crime by, for example, persuading his homeroom teacher to send him photos under the pretense that his phone and contacts had been reset, and then using these photos to create deepfakes. During the trial, it was revealed that, including additional charges filed during the proceedings, he created deepfake videos on 35 occasions targeting a total of 11 people, including the five teachers.

The victimized teachers discovered the crimes in January of this year, but it is reported that defendant A withdrew from school before the teachers' rights protection committee could be convened and therefore did not face separate disciplinary action.

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