A serving Seoul police officer assigned to the traffic division of Dongdaemun Police Station was detained in September on allegations of producing and distributing AI-generated sexually explicit deepfakes and possessing roughly 5,600 illegal files, local media reported on Oct. 4. According to forensically examined devices detailed by The Korea Herald, the cache includes about 2,600 fabricated sexual images and videos, 1,600 items of child or adolescent sexual exploitation material, and 1,300 illegally filmed videos.
Undercover Operation Tracks Telegram Distributor
The case surfaced through an undercover investigation conducted by the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency. Investigators targeted a Telegram chat room where sexually explicit fabricated images circulated. In December 2025, authorities secured court approval to enter the chat room under covert identities to monitor suspected distributors. After months of tracking, investigators identified one of the suspects as an active-duty police officer stationed in Seoul. Police searched the officer’s mobile phone and other electronic devices in August, revealing the extensive digital archive.
Timeline of Alleged Offenses and Prior Record
Investigators established that the suspect joined the police force in April 2024. This recruitment date means the alleged offences began roughly two years before employment and persisted after the officer entered the force. Between March 2022 and July 2026, the officer allegedly produced more than 400 AI-generated images and videos depicting acquaintances as nude. Investigators also believe the officer covertly recorded women’s bodies and shared numerous manufactured sexual pictures via Telegram from August 2025 to April 2026. Threatcluster.io noted that the suspect had previously faced a police investigation for similar offenses, receiving a suspended indictment prior to joining the force. Under South Korean legal standards, a suspended indictment permits prosecutors to withhold formal charges after weighing case circumstances and the suspect’s profile.
Expanded Investigative Powers Follow Nth Room Scandals
The covert operation illustrates the reach of expanded investigative authorities enacted in the wake of high-profile digital exploitation cases, including the Nth Room and Doctor’s Room scandals. Those Telegram-based crimes pushed South Korea to overhaul its digital sex-crime framework. Undercover investigations were initially authorized in 2021 exclusively for crimes involving minors. In June 2025, the legal scope broadened to encompass digital sexual offences targeting adult victims.
Dongdaemun Police Station Relieves Officer of Duty
Following notification from the Busan police regarding the open investigation, the Dongdaemun Police Station placed the officer on standby duty immediately and subsequently relieved the individual of all professional responsibilities. The station declined to release additional comments concerning the ongoing inquiry or the specifics of the allegations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific types of illegal files were found on the suspect’s devices?
Around 5,600 unlawful files surfaced during a digital forensic check of the officer’s smartphone and hardware, comprising 2,600 made-up sexual clips and pictures, 1,600 files categorized as child or youth sexual abuse content, and 1,300 secretly recorded videos.
How did investigators discover the active-duty police officer’s involvement?
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency ran an undercover operation targeting a Telegram chat room distributing fabricated sexual content. Investigators obtained court approval in December 2025 to enter the chat room covertly, eventually identifying the Seoul police officer after several months of tracking.
What action did the Dongdaemun Police Station take against the officer?
The station placed the officer on standby duty immediately after receiving notification from Busan police that an investigation had opened, and subsequently relieved the individual of all official duties.