South Korea hit by dual crisis of deepfakes, declining birth rate
Young girls, reduced to mere objects, struggle to envision a future where they feel secure, valued, and can build families
Women walk past street stalls at Namdaemun Market in Seoul, South Korea, on June 20, 2023. (Photo: AFP)
By Cristian Martini Grimaldi
Published: October 17, 2024 11:05 AM GMT
Updated: October 17, 2024 11:44 AM GMT
In the rigidly regulated society of South Korea, two starkly contrasting realities lay bare deep contradictions within its social fabric.
On the one hand, the country grapples with the world's lowest birth rate, a demographic crisis that threatens its future prosperity. On the other, it confronts the disturbing sexualization of young women and even schoolgirls, amplified not only by the proliferation of non-consensual deepfakes but also by the global phenomenon of K-pop culture.
The Korean pop industry, often criticized for packaging and promoting young women through highly sexualized performances, underscores a societal dysfunction where the lines between art and exploitation become increasingly blurred.
Consider the case of a 27-year-old woman who, three years after falling victim to a deepfake scandal depicting her in explicit sexual poses, still grapples with extreme trauma. Her story is one among many in South Korea, where non-consensual deepfakes — explicit videos or images created without the subject's permission — have surged in recent years.
The impact of these crimes is devastating, leaving women not only with psychological scars but also marginalized in a society that often blames victims rather than perpetrators.
In 2023 alone, police arrested 387 individuals, mostly teenagers, for deepfake-related crimes. The fact that most perpetrators are young is particularly troubling. This isn’t a simple case of youthful indiscretion; it's indicative of a growing culture of casual misogyny.
Young girls, often schoolmates, relatives, or acquaintances, are targeted as pranks or, more disturbingly, as objects of dehumanizing exploitation. While parliament has amended laws to criminalize viewing or possessing such material, the damage inflicted upon victims and society is already extensive.
At the heart of this issue lies a widening gender divide and a fundamental crisis in sexual education. The deepfake scandal reflects deeply rooted misogyny that has gone unchecked.
Inadequate sexual education fails to instill a healthy understanding of consent, respect, or boundaries, leaving young men vulnerable to engaging in predatory behaviors.
Growing up in a digital era where online anonymity offers freedom without consequence, they act while girls and women bear the brunt of their actions.
The K-pop industry further complicates this landscape. While it has propelled South Korea onto the global stage, it often does so by taking young, beautiful women and teaching them to perform in ways that are overtly sexual.
These performers are meticulously crafted to appeal to both domestic and international audiences, but in the process, they are often reduced to commodities. Their value is measured not by artistic expression but by their ability to conform to unrealistic beauty standards and perform sexually suggestive dances.
This commercialization of sexuality sends conflicting messages to young people about gender roles and self-worth.
The gender divide in South Korea is not just a social issue; it’s structural. The country ranks among the lowest in terms of gender equality in developed nations, with women routinely facing discrimination in the workplace and at home.
Recent protests by women demanding justice for deepfake victims and greater gender equality have been symbolic of broader frustrations. Yet even these protests reveal the depth of the chasm.
Men and women often talk past each other, with some men perceiving these issues as overblown or exaggerated. The lack of empathy and understanding across genders exacerbates the situation.
Amid this backdrop of sexual exploitation and gender strife, South Korea faces a demographic crisis. Its birth rate, already the lowest in the world, continues to decline.
In 2023, the average number of children per woman dipped to 0.7 — a figure that spells disaster for a country whose economic growth was once driven by its young and vibrant workforce.
Multiple factors contribute to this decline: economic instability, high housing costs, and the pressures of a hyper-competitive society. However, the role of gender dynamics cannot be ignored.
The sexualization of young women, evident both in the rise of deepfakes and the pervasive influence of K-pop culture, exacerbates this demographic paradox.
When young girls grow up in an environment where they are reduced to mere objects — where unrealistic and often degrading standards measure their worth — they struggle to envision a future where they feel secure and valued, and can build families.
This societal environment discourages women from embracing traditional roles of marriage and motherhood, contributing evermore to the declining demography.
*The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.