South Korea is confronting a deepfake porn "emergency."

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 👀 Today’s Email about:

• South Korea is confronting a deepfake porn "emergency."

• South Korea has allocated a $41 million budget to end dog meat consumption by next year.

• Seoul introduces a moon-shaped balloon ride offering stunning views of the city.

NEWS 📰

South Korea is confronting a deepfake porn "emergency."

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol has called for urgent action to tackle the country’s rising problem of digital sex crimes, especially deepfake pornography targeting young women and minors. This comes after authorities uncovered chat groups on Telegram where explicit deepfake images, often of underage girls, were being shared.

Deepfakes use AI to combine a real person's face with a fake body, creating realistic but non-consensual sexual content. Many of these crimes were linked to teenage students who uploaded photos of classmates and teachers, which were then turned into explicit images.

South Korea has a history of digital sex crimes, including the notorious 2019 "nth-room" scandal, where women were blackmailed into performing sexual acts. The current crisis has seen a sharp increase in deepfake cases, with 297 reported in the first half of 2023 alone.

Women’s rights activists are urging the government to declare a "national emergency," but some critics doubt the administration's ability to address the issue effectively. South Korea also struggles with gender inequality, as women hold few executive positions and face the widest gender pay gap among wealthy nations.

The deepfake problem is part of a broader issue with digital sex crimes in the country, making online spaces increasingly unsafe for women.

South Korea has allocated a $41 million budget to end dog meat consumption by next year.

South Korea has allocated a 55 billion won ($41 million) budget for 2025 to end dog meat consumption, as reported by the Hankook Ilbo. The budget includes 54.4 billion won from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and 600 million won from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Key allocations include 28.1 billion won to help farm owners transition or close their businesses, 1.5 billion won for local government animal shelters, and 5 billion won for demolishing slaughterhouse facilities. Additionally, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will offer 2.5 million won to restaurants that switch their business focus.

Although the Dog Meat Consumption Ban Law was passed in February, a three-year grace period means that dog farming, slaughter, and sales for consumption will be fully banned by February 2027. The total investment is expected to exceed 280 billion won until the law is fully enforced.

Support for dog farm closures will vary based on the number of dogs, farm size, and timing of closure, with more support for those that close earlier. Specific plans will be finalized after discussions in the Dog Meat Consumption Ban Committee next month, with an official announcement expected in September.

ENTERTAINMENT 🌄

Seoul introduces a moon-shaped balloon ride offering stunning views of the city.

The new helium balloon ride, SEOULDAL, officially launched in Seoul's Yeouido Park, offering breathtaking views of the city from 130 meters above ground. Operating Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 10 p.m., the tethered balloon can carry up to 20 passengers at a time and provides panoramic views of the Han River and Seoul's skyline.

Tickets are priced at 25,000 won ($18.76) for adults and 20,000 won for children and teens, with a 10% discount for Climate Card holders. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is working on an online reservation system, but tickets can currently be purchased on-site after confirming a reservation.

SEOULDAL aims to become a major tourist attraction, showcasing landmarks like Mount Nam, the Han River, and the National Assembly. The city is committed to ensuring the ride is safe and memorable for all visitors, with updates on its operation available on Instagram and its official info page. e-list, earning up to $3.43 million per post with over 600 million followers.

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