Sex crimes surge at South Korea's national universities as deepfakes spread

Universities see rising digital sex crimes and uneven prevention efforts as cases hit five-year high

As deepfake sexual exploitation content production, illegal filming, and sexual harassment in group chats continue across universities, sexual misconduct uncovered at national universities has reached the highest level in the past five years this year. More than four out of 10 crimes and misconduct cases involving enrolled students at national universities over the past five years were sex-related.

According to materials received on the 21st by People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Seong-guk, a member of the Education Committee of the National Assembly, from nine national universities, there were a total of 160 crimes, misconduct, and school rule violations involving enrolled students from 2022 to this year. Of these, sex-related cases such as sexual harassment, sexual violence, and sexual assault; illegal filming; distribution of filmed material; and deepfakes totaled 71, accounting for 44.4% of the whole.

Sex-related cases have risen for three straight years. They fell from 12 in 2022 to 10 in 2023, then increased to 12 in 2024, 16 last year, and 21 this year. This year has already recorded the highest number among the past five years.

The types of crimes have also diversified. In addition to existing sexual harassment and sexual violence, digital sex crimes such as illegal filming, distribution of filmed material, and production and distribution of deepfake sexual exploitation content were repeatedly uncovered.

Recently at Kyungpook National University, a case emerged in which sexually harassing remarks targeting female students were exchanged in a campus group chat. There were also allegations that an enrolled student requested the production of deepfake sexual exploitation content targeting a female student in the same department and made sexually harassing on social media (SNS), which police are currently investigating.

Although sex-related cases on campus are increasing, the operation and participation levels of preventive education varied by university.

Seoul National University said it operates human rights and gender equality education both online and offline year-round through its Human Rights Center. However, in the submitted materials, there were no separately tallied records over the past five years for education on sexual harassment and prostitution targeting students.

Kyungpook National University said it will provide psychological and legal support to victimized students while taking strict disciplinary action at the school level against offending students.

Jeong said, "It should not end with simple post-incident discipline," and added, "Preventive education should be actively supported to raise students' gender awareness, and relevant laws and systems should be improved to respond to new types of sex crimes such as deepfakes."

Overall crimes, misconduct, and school rule violations by enrolled students are also on the rise. There were 23 in 2022, 30 in 2023, 24 in 2024, 41 last year, and 42 this year, already surpassing last year's annual total. In addition to sex-related cases, assault, cheating on exams, leakage of personal information, embezzlement of public funds, housebreaking, and gambling were uncovered.