[Dispatch=Reporter Lee A Jin] A individual who produced and sold deepfake videos of aespa's Karina and Winter has been sentenced to prison time.

SM Entertainment stated on the 18th, "A, who produced deepfake videos of Karina and Winter and sold them for profit, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison."

The Daegu High Court's First Criminal Division ordered A to complete 80 hours of sexual violence treatment programs along with the prison sentence, and imposed a seven-year employment ban from child and youth-related institutions.

SM is currently taking legal action against those who have posted malicious comments and messages related to the artist. The charges include violations of the Sexual Violence Punishment Act, the Information and Communications Network Act, and the Basic Telecommunications Act.

The company added, "We are continuously monitoring reports from fans and major domestic and international platforms. We have already secured substantial evidence. We are identifying the identities of anonymous posters."

It further emphasized, "We will respond firmly without any leniency or settlement to malicious rumors, spreading false information, sexual harassment, mockery, and the creation and distribution of distorted content."

<Photo=Dispatch DB>