President Lee Jae-myung highlighted on July 16 that AI-generated deepfake videos and images, which can be indistinguishable from real individuals, could be misinterpreted as factual evidence if not clearly labeled.
During a report meeting at the Blue House with the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Communications Commission, and the Personal Information Protection Commission, President Lee stated, "These days, it is difficult to distinguish between AI-generated content and actual situations, as they closely resemble real footage."
He warned, "Without proper labeling, serious misunderstandings can arise, and if misused, the consequences could be severe. Given that the risks associated with AI-generated content are already materializing, we must have countermeasures in place."
According to the current AI Basic Act, videos and images created by generative AI must be labeled as AI-generated. Specifically, deepfakes that alter real individuals or actual events must be visibly marked for users to recognize immediately. Violating this labeling requirement can result in fines of up to 30 million won, but enforcement of these regulations has been suspended for a year.
President Lee pointed out that the existing law only imposes labeling obligations on AI model developers and users, while failing to regulate general distributors who may remove or alter labels on generated content before redistributing it.
He noted that domestic portals typically block posts upon receiving reports of defamation or rights violations, followed by an appeals process. However, overseas platforms often do not implement proper identity verification or removal actions.
Earlier in the meeting, President Lee remarked, "In the future, we may have to coexist with AI that matches or exceeds human intelligence in all areas of our society," adding, "The world is undergoing a civilizational transformation driven by AI."
He expressed optimism, stating, "I believe this situation presents a critical opportunity for us. If we effectively leverage our strengths and address our weaknesses, we can become leaders rather than followers. A slight edge can lead to limitless opportunities."
President Lee also mentioned that within a year of his administration's launch, the scientific and technological innovation ecosystem has been normalized, correcting previous budget cuts in research and development (R&D) and addressing harsh measures in the science and technology sector. He noted that significant private investments have recently been attracted.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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