South Korea - The Korea Times

Police arrest 94 suspects over deepfake crimes in 5 months

gettyimagesbankPolice said Sunday they have arrested 94 suspects over allegations of creating or distributing illegal deepfake content in the past five months amid calls for tightened scrutiny over crimes using the deep learning technology.Deepfake content refers to digitally manipulated images or videos that could lead viewers to wrongly perceive the processed media to be real, often becoming a source of fake news, fraud and defamation. Of the arrested suspects, 65, or 70 percent, were teenagers, while 17, or 18 percent, were in their 20s, police said.Of 114 victims identified, 109 were female, mostly in their 10s or 20s."Creation or distribution of deepfake content is a serious crime," a police official said, adding that they are looking into another 103 similar cases.A 2019 report by Amsterdam-based cybersecurity firm Sensity, formerly Deeptrace, showed that a whopping 96 percent of deepfake videos online were pornographic content. (Yonhap)

May 2, 2021

Police arrest 94 suspects over deepfake crimes in 5 months

'Conflict of interest prevention bill' poised to improve public sector work ethics, transparency

gettyimagesbankThe recent parliamentary passage of the so-called conflict of interest prevention law, which took eight years since its first proposal, is expected to bring about a vast change of culture in the public sector in terms of improved transparency and work ethics.The National Assembly on Thursday passed the bill that prohibits public officials, including lawmakers, from seeking personal gain using information related to their job responsibilities.Similar anti-graft bills were proposed over the past eight years in vain. But a recent massive land speculation scandal involving employees at the state-run housing developer, LH, provided a decisive impetus for the latest bill's parliamentary passage.The new law will directly affect 1.9 million workers in the public sector, including those in central and local governments and state-run public corporations. A violation of the proposed law resulting in gains in property could lead to criminal punishment, including a maximum sentence of seven years or a maximum fine of 70 million won (US$63,000), and other disciplinary actions. Some

May 2, 2021

'Conflict of interest prevention bill' poised to improve public sector work ethics, transparency

Gov't remains unperturbed by mounting calls for pardoning jailed Samsung heir

Lee Jae-yong, the imprisoned de facto leader of Samsung Group / YonhapCalls for pardoning Lee Jae-yong, the incarcerated de facto chief of Samsung Group, have resurfaced after his family unveiled plans to donate a chunk of the immense assets inherited from Lee's late father and company Chairman Lee Kun-hee.But the government and the ruling party remain adamant that it is too early to deliberate on the issue. Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum on Thursday highly assessed Samsung heirs' donation pledges but stressed it would hardly influence the government's stance on the issue. "I highly appreciate (the decision) to return the precious cultural assets to the people's domain," Kim told reporters on Thursday. "Granting a pardon is a separate issue (however) ... the president (who has the authority to give pardons) may have to consider many other factors," he said, practically ruling out the possibility of an imminent pardon. Some politicians and business and religious leaders, as well as civic entities, have been calling for President Moon Jae-in to pardon Lee. They say he needs to ret

Apr 30, 2021

Gov't remains unperturbed by mounting calls for pardoning jailed Samsung heir

Police raid dairy firm over alleged exaggeration of yogurt's effects against COVID-19

Inspectors from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency come out from Namyang Dairy Products' headquarters in Seoul's Gangnam District on Friday after raiding there following the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's complaint that the company released false information on its yogurt products calling them effective in preventing or curing coronavirus diseases. YonhapPolice raided the headquarters of a major dairy firm on Friday as part of a probe into allegations that it exaggerated anti-coronavirus effects of its yogurt products.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it had been conducting searches at the headquarters and five other facilities of Namyang Dairy Products, including a laboratory in the central city of Sejong, since 9:30 a.m. The operation came after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety filed a complaint on April 15 against Namyang on charges of violating the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods, which bans advertisements from carrying information that leads consumers to falsely believe certain products could prevent or cure diseases.Earlier that week, the company clai

Apr 30, 2021

Police raid dairy firm over alleged exaggeration of yogurt's effects against COVID-19

Two arrested in family-run brothel case

/ gettyimagesbankBy Ko Dong-hwanTwo people have been arrested in connection with a family-run brothels they operated in Suwon for 23 years after “inheriting” the illegal business from their mother, police said Thursday. It is alleged the brothels made 12.8 billion won ($11.5 million) profits in that time.Three others ― another sibling and their spouses ― are also under investigation for allegedly aiding the two arrested individuals.The investigation began after two women filed a complaint five months ago with the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office; they claimed they had been forced into prostitution and abused for more than a year by the suspects.Last month police raided five brothels run by the suspects near Suwon Station to secure evidence and immediately froze assets worth about 6.2 billion won before handing the case back to prosecutors.The siblings reportedly took over the business in 1998 from their mother, who had run brothels in the Suwon area for decades. She died in 2019.The suspects allegedly lured women with financial debts to sex work by partially paying off

Apr 29, 2021By Ko Dong-hwan

Supreme Court rejects leftist ex-lawmakers' request to restore Assembly seats

Former lawmakers of the now-disbanded Unified Progressive Party, including former floor leader Oh Byung-yun, left, announce their position in front of the Supreme Court in Seoul, Thursday, after the court rejected their request to restore their National Assembly seats. YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe Supreme Court refused a request from five former lawmakers, who belonged to the now-disbanded leftist Unified Progressive Party (UPP), to restore their status as lawmakers, Thursday, upholding an appellate court's ruling issued five years ago. The top court said it was a “logical consequence” to strip the five lawmakers of their seats, as it was required to exclude members of the party from National Assembly activities after the Constitutional Court decided on the disbandment of the party.“The consequence accords with the idea of democracy,” the court said in its verdict. In December 2014, the Constitutional Court made an unprecedented decision to disband the left-wing UPP and strip the party's five lawmakers of their seats. The decision was made while conservative Preside

Apr 29, 2021By Jun Ji-hye

Supreme Court rejects leftist ex-lawmakers' request to restore Assembly seats

'Digital Prison' operator gets 3 1/2-year in prison for sharing personal data online

In this Oct. 6, 2020, file photo, the operator of the controversial "Digital Prison" website arrives at Incheon International Airport after being repatriated from Vietnam. The operator on Wednesday was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for violating privacy law by disclosing personal data of suspected sex offenders and other criminals. YonhapAn operator of the controversial doxing website "Digital Prison" has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for violating privacy law by disclosing personal data of suspected sex offenders and other criminals.The Daegu District Court delivered the prison sentence Wednesday to the website's initial operator and ordered him to pay a forfeiture of 8.18 million won (US$7,340).The accused was indicted on charges of sharing personal information of alleged and convicted sex offenders, murderers and other criminals online and on an Instagram account from March to August last year.According to the police investigation, the 34-year-old initially opened an Instagram account in March to share private information of Cho Ju-bin, the mastermind

Apr 29, 2021

'Digital Prison' operator gets 3 1/2-year in prison for sharing personal data online

'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him

Rep. Lee Sang-jik, founder of Eastar Jet, arrested

Rep. Lee Sang-jik / YonhapA court issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday for the founder of cash-strapped budget carrier Eastar Jet on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust. Lee Sang-jik, an independent lawmaker, is suspected of colluding with a senior company official who was indicted in February for causing about 43 billion won (US$38.47 million) in financial damage to the airline by paying off long-term loans early and underselling company shares to a specific subsidiary.Judge Kim Seung-gon of the Jeonju District Court issued the warrant sought by prosecutors, saying the suspect may falsify evidence or try to coax others involved in the case to make or not to make a certain statement judging from his behaviors shown in the investigation process.Lee became the second sitting lawmaker to be put behind bars in the current legislature after Rep. Jeong Jeong-soon of the ruling Democratic Party. Last week, the National Assembly passed a motion that allowed for his arrest. Sitting lawmakers are immune from arrest while the parliament is in session. The prosecution must obtain parlia

Apr 28, 2021

Rep. Lee Sang-jik, founder of Eastar Jet, arrested

Police investigating sealing of front door with super glue

By Lee Hyo-jin Police are looking for the suspect who allegedly applied super glue on the front door of a house in Incheon, sealing the door shut, according to Incheon Namdong Police Station, Tuesday. The police said they received a report from a resident at a multi-family residence in the area, Saturday, who said she had been trapped in the house due to a sealed door. Police are looking for the suspect who allegedly applied super glue on the front door of a house in Incheon, sealing the door shut, according to Incheon Namdong Police Station, Tuesday. gettyimagesbankThe woman, who lives with her teenage son, said she had to call a door repairman, as she was not able to open the door on her way to work on April 20. They found out that the door had been jammed due to a large amount super glue applied to the gaps around the door frame. The glue was also found on the door bell, door knob, and keypad.The police are searching for the suspect involved with the case through surveillance footage from cameras installed near the house, while the victims have requested police protection over con

Apr 27, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin

Police investigating sealing of front door with super glue

Wife of Belgian ambassador yet to respond to police on assault allegation

By Lee Hyo-jin The wife of Belgian Ambassador to Korea Peter Lescouhier has yet to respond to a police request for questioning regarding her alleged assault of a store clerk, according to an officer, Monday. “We have opened an investigation of her based on CCTV footage and questioning of victims,” Jang Ha-yeon, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said at a press briefing.The wife of the Belgian ambassador to Korea is not responding to a police request to come in for questioning regarding her alleged assault case, according to the police, Monday. Yonhap“We have made multiple requests though the embassy and relevant organizations, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for her to report to the police station for questioning, but we have not received any clear response yet.”He added that they are proceeding in accordance with the standard process for the investigation of crimes committed by members of diplomatic missions in Korea.The police are looking into allegations that Lescouhier's wife slapped a clothing store employee in the face April 9, afte

Apr 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin

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