Intimate images leaked by an ex partner in South Korea
An intimate image you shared in confidence with a former partner has appeared online without your consent. The TAKE IT DOWN Act treats this as actionable regardless of how the image was originally created.
KR
jurisdiction
Sexual
primary statute
48 hr
TAKE IT DOWN Act window
Regulator power
enforcement route
Tl;dr
In South Korea, this conduct is prosecuted under Sexual Violence Punishment Act article 14 and 14-2. The civil erasure route runs through PIPA right to delete plus Information and Communications Network Act takedown procedures and PIPC. Where the host platform is subject to US jurisdiction, the TAKE IT DOWN Act adds a 48 hour platform removal obligation in parallel.
Why this happens
Intimate images shared inside a relationship survive long after the relationship ends. The most common trigger is a contested breakup, a new partner, or financial dispute.
Most leaks are first posted to platforms the perpetrator believes are anonymous. They rarely are. Account metadata, IP logs, and payment records routinely identify the source.
Legal framework in South Korea
Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes article 14 (illegal filming) and 14-2 (deepfake intimate images, added 2020). Filming: up to 7 years imprisonment or fine up to KRW 50 million. Distribution for profit: up to 10 years. Deepfake intimate images: up to 5 years.
South Korea reformed its laws after the Nth Room case, adding article 14-2 in 2020 to specifically address deepfake intimate images. The Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center operates as a government funded removal service available to all victims at no cost.
Evidence to preserve
- Full page screenshot of every URL where the content appears, with the URL bar visible
- The username or account handle that posted the content
- Any direct messages, texts, or emails from the ex partner referencing the content
- The original image metadata if you still have the source file, which can prove provenance
Do not: Do not contact the ex partner before evidence is preserved and notices are filed. Confrontation gives them time to delete content and craft a denial.
Five step removal process
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1
Preserve all evidence first
Full page screenshot of every URL where the content appears, with the URL bar visible. The username or account handle that posted the content.
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2
File the Sexual Violence Punishment Act article 14 and 14-2 criminal complaint
Report to local police or the national cybercrime unit. Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center can assist.
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3
Submit an erasure request under PIPA right to delete plus Information and Communications Network Act takedown procedures
Each major platform has a designated data protection contact. The request must cite the legal basis and identify the URLs. The platform has 30 days to respond. PIPC accepts complaints for non compliance.
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4
Run a biometric scan to find every additional copy
Content posted to one platform is rarely confined to one platform. ScanErase identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including mirror copies and AI generated variants.
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5
File TAKE IT DOWN Act notices for covered platforms
Use your scan report to file the federal 48 hour notice yourself, in parallel with your domestic rights. The two regimes are cumulative, not exclusive.
Statutory citations to include in your complaint
- Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes article 14 (illegal filming) and 14-2 (deepfake intimate images, added 2020)
- PIPA right to delete plus Information and Communications Network Act takedown procedures
- US TAKE IT DOWN Act for any covered platform
- State NCII criminal statutes in 48 states for prosecution of the ex partner
- Civil claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress and statutory damages where state law provides
Frequently asked questions
Is leaked by ex a crime in South Korea?
Yes. Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes article 14 (illegal filming) and 14-2 (deepfake intimate images, added 2020) criminalises this conduct. Filming: up to 7 years imprisonment or fine up to KRW 50 million. Distribution for profit: up to 10 years. Deepfake intimate images: up to 5 years.
What evidence should a South Korea victim of leaked by ex preserve?
Full page screenshot of every URL where the content appears, with the URL bar visible. The username or account handle that posted the content. Any direct messages, texts, or emails from the ex partner referencing the content. The original image metadata if you still have the source file, which can prove provenance.
Does PIPA right to delete apply to this scenario?
Yes. PIPA right to delete plus Information and Communications Network Act takedown procedures gives the victim a direct erasure right against any platform processing the imagery. PIPC enforces non compliance.
What support is available in South Korea for leaked by ex?
Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center provides direct support to victims and can assist with both the criminal complaint and the platform removal process. Contact at https://d4u.stop.or.kr.
Can a South Korea victim also file a US TAKE IT DOWN Act notice?
Yes when the hosting platform is subject to US jurisdiction. The 48 hour federal removal obligation runs in parallel with rights under Sexual Violence Punishment Act article 14 and 14-2 and PIPA right to delete plus Information and Communications Network Act takedown procedures.
Remove every copy now
One scan. Coordinated removal under Sexual Violence Punishment Act article 14 and 14-2, PIPA right to delete plus Information and Communications Network Act takedown procedures, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act.
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