A South Korean police officer arrested for using AI to create sexual exploitation videos; prior sex crime record did not block his hiring

An active-duty South Korean police officer was arrested for using an AI application to create and distribute sexual exploitation and fabricated image material, and the investigation found that his prior sex crime suspicion had not been filtered out. At a press conference, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief said the officer had received a suspended indictment on suspicion of illegal filming in the past, and since a suspended indictment is a non-prosecution disposition and falls outside the scope of notification, no relevant materials appeared in identity checks and interviews, adding that this is a matter requiring legislative amendment. The officer joined the force in April 2024, and before joining had been under suspicion of illegal filming since 2022 and received a suspended indictment. After joining and through July this year, he used an AI application to create more than 400 fabricated images depicting acquaintances in the nude, and also created illegally filmed materials. The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency discovered his conduct through undercover investigation, and after seizing his phone found approximately 5,600 illegal image materials in total. He also distributed dozens of fabricated image materials in Telegram chat rooms from August last year to April this year. The Dongdaemun Police Station has suspended him.