S. Korea: Is there a rise in online sex crimes with over 3,000 detained?
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Synopsis
In a concerning trend, South Korea's police have detained over 3,000 suspects for online sexual crimes in just one year, with teenagers making up a significant portion. With a sharp rise in deepfake technology-related offenses, authorities are ramping up efforts to combat this growing issue.
Key Takeaways
- Over 3,000 arrests made for online sex crimes.
- Almost 50% of suspects are teenagers.
- Deepfake crimes account for 35.2% of total offenses.
- Police investing 9.1 billion won to detect deepfakes.
- New detection system expected by December 2027.
Seoul, Nov 16 (NationPress) Authorities have arrested more than 3,000 individuals linked to online sexual offenses over the previous year, with almost 50% being teenagers, officials reported on Sunday.
The National Police Agency (NPA) uncovered 3,411 cases of online sexual abuse between November 2024 and October this year, resulting in a total of 3,557 detentions. Out of these, 221 were officially arrested, as per reports from Yonhap news agency.
In terms of crime classification, offenses involving deepfake technology made up 35.2% of the total, followed closely by sexual videos of minors or adolescents at 34.3%, and illegally recorded content at 19.4%.
Nearly half of the individuals apprehended, totaling 1,761, were teenagers, while those in their 20s accounted for 1,228, and individuals in their 30s and 40s made up 468 and 169, respectively.
Over 90% of those involved in deepfake-related offenses were teenagers or in their 20s, primarily due to their proficiency with digital tools, according to the NPA.
The number of arrests for online sexual crimes has surged by 47.8% year-over-year, with the NPA attributing this increase to a rise in deepfake crimes since the latter half of last year and enhanced penalties for offenses involving deepfake technology.
Furthermore, the police are allocating 9.1 billion won (approximately US$6.2 million) to establish a system capable of detecting deepfakes and misinformation, as South Korea aims to effectively tackle the rise in crimes linked to AI-generated images and sounds, officials stated.
Under this initiative, set to be completed by December 2027, the police intend to develop a system utilizing a multimodal algorithm to analyze noise and sound frequency for detecting deepfake videos and AI-generated audio, according to officials.
The project also encompasses the use of generative AI to trace the origins of online echo chambers to proactively address and mitigate fake news and misinformation at an early stage, they added.
Point of View
It is imperative to acknowledge the alarming rise in online sexual crimes in South Korea. The statistics reveal a concerning trend, particularly among younger demographics. The National Police Agency's proactive measures are commendable, and it highlights the urgent need for society to address the underlying issues contributing to this crisis.
NationPress
16/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
How many individuals were detained for online sex crimes in South Korea?
Over 3,000 individuals have been detained for online sex crimes in South Korea in the past year.
What percentage of the suspects are teenagers?
Nearly 50% of the suspects detained are teenagers.
What types of crimes are most prevalent?
Crimes involving deepfake technology account for 35.2% of the total, followed by sexual videos of minors at 34.3%.
What measures is the police taking to combat these crimes?
The police plan to invest 9.1 billion won to develop a system for detecting deepfakes and misinformation.
When is the detection system expected to be completed?
The project is set for completion by December 2027.
