16-Year-Old Suspect Of Deepfake Sex Crimes Attempts To Take His Own Life

A high school student in South Korea who had been questioned as part of a deepfake sex crime investigation recently attempted to take his own life by jumping from the roof of a 19-story apartment building.

The 16-year-old boy — referred to as A — had been interviewed as a witness for allegedly viewing and sharing deepfake content.

On the morning of September 6, authorities received an emergency call from a concerned citizen reporting that A was preparing to jump from the roof of a high-rise building in Andong City. When police and firefighters arrived at the scene, A was standing on top of a water tank on the roof, repeatedly expressing his deep guilt and hopelessness, saying, “I’ve committed a grave sin against society. I don’t want to live anymore.”

police backdrop — Photo for illustrative purposes only. | *Shutterstock*

To ensure A’s safety, emergency responders set up air cushions on the ground while officers attempted to talk him down from the ledge. Officers from the Andong Police Station, who were among the first on the scene, engaged in a lengthy negotiation urging A to reconsider his actions. After about 30 minutes, A broke down in tears after the police mentioned his parents but remained on the edge.

andong fire dept — Photo from the apartment building. | *Andong Fire Department*

A counselor from the Andong Mental Health Center later joined the efforts, continuing the discussion. After 1 hour and 40 minutes of persuasion, A finally stepped down from the water tank on his own.

The student had not been directly involved in the creation of the deepfake material but was questioned in relation to watching and sharing it. The police stated that A was overcome with guilt, leading him to consider taking his life. He was taken into custody by his parents after receiving counseling from a local mental health center.