Kim Yong-man, Seo Kyung-seok, Gaby and others share experiences with malicious comments
Diplomats from 14 countries join; ‘2026 Sunfull Human Rights Ambassadors’ named
Foundation urges lawmakers to designate a ‘Sunfull Day’ free of hate comments
With AI-generated deepfakes and malicious online comments emerging as a new digital human rights problem, civic groups, lawmakers and diplomats stationed in Korea have joined forces. Together, they are pushing for a society free of hate speech online.
The Sunfull Foundation said Thursday that it held a national declaration ceremony to root out AI deepfakes and malicious comments, together with an appointment ceremony for its "2026 Sunfull Human Rights Ambassadors," at the Grand Lotte Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. The event marked the 19th anniversary of the Sunfull Movement and was co-hosted with the National Assembly Sunfull Committee and the National Association of Sunfull Teachers.
The event drew lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, foreign diplomats based in Korea, and teachers and students involved in the Sunfull Movement nationwide. Movement leaders and officials from the Korea Internet Corporations Association also attended. Broadcasters Kim Yong-man, Seo Kyung-seok and Lucky, chef Austin Kang, and Gaby and Sriya of the girl group Black Swan took the stage. They shared their experiences of being targeted by malicious comments.
Participants then jointly read out the "K-Respect Declaration to Root Out AI Deepfakes and Malicious Comments," pledging to spread a culture of respecting others' human rights and dignity online.
The foundation also named its "2026 Sunfull Human Rights Ambassadors" that day, including Kim Yong-man, Seo Kyung-seok, Lucky, Austin Kang, Gaby and Sriya. Students, teachers, movement leaders and the Korea Internet Corporations Association were also named. Lawmakers from both parties jointly presented the appointment certificates.
The declaration carries added weight, according to the foundation. Rapidly advancing AI technology has turned deepfakes from mere online pranks into tools for real crime and human rights violations. The Korean National Police Agency said it apprehended 963 people during a roughly seven-month crackdown on deepfake crimes from August of last year through March, and detained 59 of them. It also requested the deletion or blocking of 10,535 pieces of harmful footage. The Basic Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of Trust, which took effect this year, also requires that AI-generated sounds, images and videos that are difficult to distinguish from real ones be clearly labeled or disclosed as AI-generated. This is meant to ensure users can recognize such content.
The Sunfull Movement began in 2007 in response to a social tragedy caused by malicious online comments. According to the foundation, more than 10 million supportive comments have been posted over the past 19 years, with about 849,000 people taking part in the movement. All 299 lawmakers of the 21st National Assembly once signed a "Sunfull Political Declaration."
Lee Jae-jung, chair of the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, attended Wednesday's event. Also present were lawmakers Kim Young-jin, Kim Hee-jung, Jin Sung-jun, Lee Hun-seung, Kang Kyung-sook, Lee Jung-heon, Yoon Yong-geun and Baek Sun-hee, along with Gyeonggi Provincial Superintendent of Education Ahn Min-seok. Lawmakers Song Seok-jun and Song Ki-heon took part via video message.
Diplomats from 14 countries stationed in Korea — including China, the EU, Italy, Cambodia, Mongolia, Timor-Leste, El Salvador, Estonia, Germany, the Philippines, Chile, Laos and Brazil — also attended. Their presence underscored the need for international solidarity against online hate and digital human rights violations.
"A culture of respect and consideration in online comments is a cultural asset of Korea that should spread across the world alongside K-pop and K-dramas," said Lee Jae-jung, chair of the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. "We will back this effort in the National Assembly so that K-Respect becomes a new global standard for the digital age."
"The harm caused by AI deepfakes falls disproportionately on women and young people," said Kim Hee-jung, chair of the National Assembly Education Committee. "The National Assembly will take the lead in establishing institutional safeguards to thoroughly protect victims and in fostering a digital culture of respect."
"Since Chinese nationals make up the largest group of foreign residents in Korea, we strongly support the Sunfull Foundation's K-Respect and anti-hate-comment campaign, which calls for respecting all neighbors, including foreign workers and multicultural families," said Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing. "We will help ensure a culture of mutual respect flourishes in both countries, so that Koreans living in China are equally respected."
Italian Ambassador to Korea Emilia Gatto said, "The harm caused by AI deepfakes and malicious comments is not a problem for any single country. We need to work together across borders to reduce that harm."
The foundation also formally urged the National Assembly that day to designate a "Sunfull Day." The proposal aims to encourage society as a whole to post supportive comments instead of malicious ones for at least one day a year.
"School violence has declined, but malicious comments have not — they are instead evolving into new forms by combining with AI deepfake technology," said Sunfull Foundation Chairman Min Byung-chul. "This event aims to declare a new global standard for the digital age through a culture of respect and consideration in online comments."
"Now that the threat of malicious comments and deepfakes has become a national challenge, this movement has moved beyond what one person's efforts alone can sustain," he added. "National-level support and participation from committed businesses are urgently needed. We urge the government to take the lead in designating a 'Sunfull Day' — a day, even just one a year, free of malicious comments and filled with supportive ones instead."
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