Serving Seoul police officer arrested over AI-generated sexual exploitation videos
Version 3: More outlets have picked up the case, adding the arrest warrant date and the date the officer was relieved of duty and a figure for how many videos were distributed, while the dispute over when he joined the force has widened: four outlets now say December 2023 and three say April 2024.
In short
A senior constable in the traffic division of Seoul’s Dongdaemun Police Station was arrested last month on charges of possessing, producing and distributing sexual exploitation material and false videos, including AI-generated images of acquaintances. Police found about 5,600 illegal videos on his phone and other seized items — roughly 2,600 false videos, about 1,600 child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials and about 1,300 illegal recordings. He was identified through a months-long undercover investigation by the Busan Police Agency and has been relieved of duty.
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A serving senior constable at Seoul’s Dongdaemun Police Station has been arrested on charges of possessing sexual exploitation material and false videos and of producing and distributing false videos, according to police accounts reported by Yonhap and other outlets. The officer, identified only as A and described as working in the station’s traffic division, was arrested last month and has been relieved of his post, the reports said. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
Analysis of his mobile phone and other seized items found about 5,600 illegal videos, according to the reports: roughly 2,600 false videos, about 1,600 child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials and about 1,300 illegal recordings. The search warrant executed in August listed only the distribution of three false videos, but the subsequent analysis uncovered the far larger scale, Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily reported. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 12 , 13 ]
Investigators found he had used an AI application to create about 400 false videos depicting acquaintances naked between March 2022 and July 2026, and had also produced illegal recordings by secretly filming women, according to the reports. From August 2025 to April 2026 he allegedly distributed dozens of false videos in a Telegram chat room, Yonhap reported; the Chosun Ilbo said about 50 of the videos he made were distributed via Telegram. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 16 ]
The case surfaced through an undercover investigation. The Busan Police Agency obtained court authorisation in December 2025 to investigate a Telegram chat room where false videos were being shared, and investigators working without revealing their identities traced the offences over several months before identifying the suspect, the reports said. Such investigations were introduced in September 2021 under an amendment to the Youth Sexual Protection Act following the so-called Nth room case, and since June 2025 can be used for digital sex crimes against adults under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 16 ]
The outlets agree he had previously been investigated in a similar case and received a suspended indictment before joining the force. Yonhap said he confessed during the investigation, and Asia Economy reported that police believe he admitted the offences and are examining the exact scale and whether there were additional victims. [ 1 , 6 , 9 , 10 ]
The Dongdaemun Police Station said the officer was placed on standby duty immediately after the Busan agency notified it that an investigation had begun and has since been relieved of his post, adding that it cannot confirm the detailed charges or the course of the investigation. The Hankook Ilbo reported an arrest warrant was issued on 16 September and that he was relieved of duty the next day. A Busan Police Agency official told the Kyunghyang Shinmun the investigation is ongoing and that the agency is focusing on protecting victims’ psychological wellbeing. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 ]
Outlets differed on when he joined the police: Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy said April 2024, while the Dong-A Ilbo, NoCut News, the Hankook Ilbo and Maeil Business said December 2023. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
Why it matters
The suspect is a serving officer accused of making and sharing AI-generated sexual material, and reports say he had already received a suspended indictment in a similar case before joining the force; the documents do not explain how he passed recruitment screening. Police say the exact scale of the offences and whether there are additional victims are still being examined, and disciplinary steps depend on the outcome of his trial.
Key facts
- A senior constable at the Seoul Dongdaemun Police Station was arrested last month on charges of possessing sexual exploitation material and false videos and of producing and distributing false videos. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
- About 5,600 illegal videos were found on his phone and other seized items: roughly 2,600 false videos, about 1,600 child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials and about 1,300 illegal recordings. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 12 , 13 ]
- He is alleged to have used an AI application to create about 400 false videos depicting acquaintances naked between March 2022 and July 2026, and to have produced illegal recordings by secretly filming women. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
- The Busan Police Agency obtained court authorisation in December 2025 for an undercover investigation of a Telegram chat room sharing false videos and identified him after months of tracing. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
- Undercover investigations were introduced in September 2021 under an amendment to the Youth Sexual Protection Act after the so-called Nth room case, and since June 2025 can be used for digital sex crimes against adults under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 16 ]
- He had previously been investigated in a similar case and received a suspended indictment before joining the police. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 ]
- Yonhap said he confessed during the investigation, and Asia Economy reported that police believe he admitted the offences and are examining the exact scale and whether there were additional victims. [ 1 , 6 , 9 ]
- The Dongdaemun Police Station said he was placed on standby duty immediately after the Busan agency notified it of the investigation and has since been relieved of his post, and that it cannot confirm the detailed charges or the course of the investigation. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A senior constable at the Seoul Dongdaemun Police Station was arrested last month on charges of possessing sexual exploitation material and false videos and of producing and distributing false videos. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
- About 5,600 illegal videos were found on his phone and other seized items, including about 2,600 false videos, about 1,600 child and adolescent sexual exploitation materials and about 1,300 illegal recordings. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 10 , 12 , 13 ]
- He is alleged to have created about 400 AI-generated false videos depicting acquaintances naked between March 2022 and July 2026. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
- The Busan Police Agency used an undercover investigation authorised by a court in December 2025 to trace him in a Telegram chat room. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 ]
- He had received a suspended indictment in a similar case before joining the police. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 ]
- The Dongdaemun Police Station said he was placed on standby duty after the Busan agency notified it of the investigation and has since been relieved of his post. [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 12 , 13 ]
- He confessed or is believed by police to have admitted the offences, and police say the exact scale and any additional victims are still being examined. [ 1 , 6 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- When the officer joined the police force. Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy said April 2024, while the Dong-A Ilbo, NoCut News, the Hankook Ilbo and Maeil Business said December 2023.
- The exact date of his arrest. The Dong-A Ilbo and the Hankook Ilbo said 16 September, with the Hankook Ilbo adding that he was relieved of duty on 17 September; other outlets said only that he was arrested last month.
- How many false videos he distributed. Yonhap said he distributed dozens of false videos between August 2025 and April 2026, while the Chosun Ilbo said about 50 of the roughly 400 videos he created were distributed via Telegram.
- When investigators identified him. The Kyunghyang Shinmun said police identified and booked him in July, while the Hankook Ilbo said the distributor was identified in August after months of tracing.
- Whether there are additional offences or victims. Asia Economy reported that police are examining the exact scale and possible additional victims, and the Dongdaemun station and the Busan Police Agency said details could not be confirmed while the investigation continues.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap reports the officer’s arrest and the roughly 5,600 illegal videos found on his phone and other seized items. [ 1 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes a headline identifying the suspect as a serving police officer. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun publishes a headline saying the suspect was a serving officer at the Dongdaemun station. [ 3 ]
- Newsis reports the arrest of a serving Dongdaemun officer on suspicion of producing AI sexual exploitation material involving acquaintances. [ 4 ]
- Seoul Economic Daily reports that police will begin disciplinary proceedings based on the outcome of his trial. [ 5 ]
- Asia Economy reports that police believe the officer admitted the offences and are checking the exact scale and any additional victims. [ 6 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the arrest took place on 16 September and gives a joining date of December 2023. [ 7 ]
- Asia Economy publishes a further summary of the case. [ 8 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun reports the Busan Police Agency’s cyber crime unit arrested the officer and quotes the agency on protecting victims’ psychological wellbeing. [ 9 ]
- NoCut News reports he was relieved of duty immediately after his arrest. [ 10 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports an arrest warrant was issued on 16 September and he was relieved of duty on 17 September. [ 12 ]
- Maeil Business reports the case details. [ 13 ]
- Seoul Shinmun publishes further pieces framing the case as a test of control over the country’s roughly 130,000-strong police force. [ 14 , 15 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports he distributed about 50 of the videos he created via Telegram. [ 16 ]