Middle school student who made deepfakes of classmates beaten by peers in retaliation

A middle school student in Cheongju who created deepfake videos using illegally captured images of female classmates was beaten by peers in a retaliatory attack.

Police said they have received reports of both incidents and are conducting separate investigations into the illegal filming and the retaliatory assault.

On Friday, the male student, identified only as A, was caught by a female victim, identified as B, after he made and distributed deepfake videos using photos of female classmates at a Cheongju middle school. B's parents filed a report with police that day, prompting an investigation. Officers confirmed that A had captured screenshots during video calls with multiple female students and used them to create the deepfake content.

On Monday, after the incident became known, A was attacked by two of B's acquaintances on a hiking trail behind the school and is currently hospitalized for treatment. Police have booked the two assailants on assault charges without detention and are continuing their investigation.

"It is difficult to confirm the exact facts as the investigation is ongoing," a police official said.