Things have taken an unexpected turn. While celebrities are usually framed as the victims of generative AI images, some have started intentionally using them due to a lack of caution. In this situation, it is worth considering whether the premise that “celebrities must be protected because they are celebrities” still holds true.
Recently, an increasing number of people in the entertainment industry have found themselves in hot water due to the results of increasingly sophisticated generative AI. Various rumors such as “secret visits to Korea,” “girlfriend rumors,” and “attending games” have emerged. The individuals involved claim they had no bad intentions and are instead expressing frustration toward the netizens who spread the news and the media outlets that reported it.
On the 9th, actor Jung Yoon-min posted a photo on his SNS account with the caption, “I can’t believe I met Brad-hyung in the alleys of Bukchon!” The photo, which featured a person who looked like Hollywood actor Brad Pitt against a real backdrop of Bukchon Hanok Village, sparked rumors of a secret visit to Korea and dominated portal news.
Eventually, on the 11th, Jung Yoon-min revealed that the photo was an “AI-generated image.” He explained, “I was scared by how realistically real people and backgrounds can be created, so I shared it lightly to raise awareness. I didn’t intend for it to receive this much attention.”
Entertainer Maeng Seung-ji created a similar situation. On the 8th, she shared a video on her SNS with the caption “Just trend” and a subtitle saying “Watching baseball.” The video showed Maeng Seung-ji as if she were caught on a real baseball game broadcast. She sparked controversy by appearing to put her feet on a table, but it was later revealed to be a generative AI video.
Actor Noh Jin-won showed a similar case. In February, he posted a photo with a young woman on his SNS and wrote, “A day like this finally comes for me. I will love her beautifully,” intentionally inducing dating rumors. Since he was born in 1970 and the woman appeared to be in her 20s, some netizens expressed discomfort, and Noh fueled the fire by responding, “Please refrain from making insulting remarks about our relationship.”
However, once it became a controversy, Noh Jin-won stated, “It was an AI photo a friend made for me, and I posted it for fun,” adding that it is a “scary world.”
All of their responses shared a common trait: shifting the blame outward rather than acknowledging their own mistakes. In Jung Yoon-min’s case, he became the distributor himself, saying, “Technology has advanced to the point where articles are written. Let’s all be careful not to be fooled by fake photos.” Maeng Seung-ji took a more aggressive stance, claiming that “writing sensational headlines and malicious lies is a witch hunt.” Noh Jin-won also minimized his actions by saying he posted it “for fun.”
Of course, media outlets that rush to report unverified images without performing basic fact-checking deserve criticism. However, since images posted by public figures like celebrities are often trusted as truth, it is difficult to place 100% of the blame on the media. Especially considering that more people are being harmed by these AI images, a more mature approach is necessary.
In the case of actress Yeom Hye-ran, the movie ‘Gumchimwon’ became a controversy for synthesizing her face and acting style without asking for her portrait rights. The video disappeared after an objection from Yeom Hye-ran’s side, but the level of AI video—which was sophisticated enough to fool everyone—has now reached a stage where we must move beyond awareness to extreme vigilance.
Yeom Hye-ran later told Sports Kyunghyang, “I was very shocked when I saw the article. The technology is advanced, but I was flustered by the lack of alternatives.” She added, “Ultimately, the issue with AI is not something we should reject, but something we must prepare for and utilize well.” Her intended “utilization” and “preparation” likely do not include posting things for fun.
In a situation where photos and videos of others can be easily synthesized and celebrities are highly likely to be the victims, it is not a pleasant situation when the stars themselves become the source of “fake images.” It would be better if celebrities who claim to be victims of AI theft did not misuse AI themselves.
