Police have launched a search-and-seizure operation over alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act, including the production of fake artificial intelligence (AI) videos targeting a South Gyeongsang governor candidate and the abuse of government authority in the June 3 nationwide local elections.
The Cyber Investigation Division of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency deployed more than 10 officers to conduct searches at locations including the public relations office of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Office at around 10:10 a.m. Monday. The searches were carried out simultaneously at several locations, including the provincial office.
The provincial police agency has begun investigating allegations of fake AI video production that surfaced in the final stages of the South Gyeongsang governor race. The investigation targets nine people, including an official from the campaign of Park Wan-su, the People Power Party governor-elect, and current and former officials of the South Gyeongsang Provincial Office.
The allegations were triggered by the voluntary surrender of a person identified as A, who had participated in video production for Park's campaign. A claimed that Park's side produced fake AI videos slandering Kim Kyoung-soo, the Democratic Party candidate, starting in mid-March this year and posted them on an unofficial YouTube channel late last month.
A alleges that in the process of producing content to be posted on the YouTube channel, South Gyeongsang Provincial Office officials intervened by directing the production of videos attacking Kim and providing internal materials.
However, at a self-arranged press conference on the 1st of this month, A stated, "I made the deepfake videos myself."
The Public Official Election Act prohibits producing, editing, or distributing illegal fake AI videos for election campaign purposes from 90 days before an election. It also prohibits public officials from exercising undue influence on elections or acting to affect election results.
In connection with this, the South Gyeongsang Provincial Election Commission requested that the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office investigate nine people, including current and former provincial office officials and workers from Park's campaign, on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act.
"We cannot provide detailed information related to the case, including the searches," an official from the South Gyeongsang Provincial Police Agency said.
