YouTubers Charged for Creating Deepfake Video of President Yoon Suk-yeol

On February 15, during a rally for and against the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol in Gwangju's Geumnam-ro, two YouTubers were charged by the Gwangju Cyber Crime Investigation Unit for creating and screening a deepfake video of the President and First Lady. The video, which depicted their faces superimposed onto bodies in underwear and swimsuits, was shown on a large screen mounted on a truck near the 5.18 Democracy Square, close to the pro-impeachment rally. The Presidential Office confirmed the incident and reported the YouTubers for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes. The video was not displayed on the main stage of the pro-impeachment rally, and the organizing group, Gwangju Emergency Action, clarified that the video was not officially sanctioned and distanced themselves from its production and screening. The creators of the video are reported to be from Norway, while the individual who screened it resides in Gyeonggi Province. A police official stated that once a complaint is filed, the involved parties are immediately charged, and no further investigative procedures have been initiated at this time.