"President Yoon, I Love You"... The Beautiful Woman in Her 20s Who Shouted 'Yoon Again' Was Actually

AI Deepfake Manipulation Increasing in Political Content

Recently, accounts spreading political messages have been appearing one after another, especially on social networking services (SNS) such as YouTube and Instagram. However, many of these accounts have sparked controversy after it was revealed that they were manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

A conservative YouTube channel that digitally combined an image of a woman wearing a short skirt and holding the Taegeukgi flag at the actual Yoon Again rally. YouTube screenshot

Hwang Hee-doo, a director at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation who has been tracking far-right online activities, recently exposed the true nature of a political account via SNS. The account in question operated under the name 'OO Joa' and attracted attention with slogans such as "I love the Free Republic of Korea. Yoon Again!" Numerous selfies of a woman appearing to be in her 20s were posted to the account, which reportedly helped it rapidly gain followers.

However, users began to point out the unnatural quality of the photos and posts, fueling suspicions. Eventually, the operator admitted that he was in fact male. In an apology, he stated, "I was not able to reveal the truth at the appropriate time," and added, "I apologize to those who may have felt betrayed." The account has since been deleted.

A conservative YouTube channel that digitally manipulated an image of a woman holding a Taegeukgi flag and wearing a short skirt at an actual Yoon Again rally. YouTube screenshot

Hwang stated, "AI technology has now reached a level where it is difficult for the human eye to distinguish between real and fake," adding, "This is not simply a technological issue, but a textbook example of cognitive warfare that targets human perception."

Hwang also warned, "This method is not just about attracting attention; it is a classic form of propaganda that creates fake public opinion and can undermine trust in society." He cautioned, "A considerable number of people are deceived. This is not an issue of individual judgment, but rather the result of a cognitive environment engineered through repeated exposure and algorithmic amplification."

Hwang had previously revealed in February that the photo of a flight attendant had been used without permission by a politically oriented account. As AI technology rapidly advances, concerns are growing that images and videos that are difficult to distinguish from reality are spreading online, making it increasingly important for users to exercise caution.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.