The Alarming Rise of Gender Inequality, Deepfake Threats, and Digital Violence in South Korea

Cat, a feminist activist from South Korea, is currently dealing with personal safety concerns. She has been receiving threats on the PPKKa channel (a misogynistic YouTuber with 1.19 million male subscribers) for her advocacy against Deepfake. Due to her upcoming role as a leader in the Digital Sexual Violence Tagging Campaign on Telegram this Sunday, Cat is unable to delete or secure her account. This puts her at risk of having her personal information leaked and her safety compromised.

A Korean feminist named Cat is threatened with her personal safety. Cat is stuffed on the PPKKa channel (a misogynistic YouTuber, 1.19 million male subscribers) for publicizing Deepfake. Cat said she can’t delete or lock her account because she’s going to host the Telegram… https://t.co/1u7eP7AVsP

— 깡용🚙 (@booknliving) August 26, 2024

“She earnestly implores: “Please report the video (‘중고대학생’) posted on the PPKKa YouTube channel and take action to have the channel removed. Let us stand together in solidarity to ensure Cat’s safety. I sincerely urge your cooperation.”

“The wages for women are significantly lower than what college students may expect. Although the annual salary may not seem too low, the combination of an unfair wage system and mandatory overtime work is undeniable. For instance, my friend, who works in the entertainment industry and is an otaku, was required to work overtime on the day they signed their contract. In this industry, working overtime on weekends is often expected at the request of a superior. It would be more beneficial to find a job with a healthy work-life balance, receive a stable salary, and use that income to pursue personal interests. 😭”

Despite being in the K-pop industry, the disparity in wages between men and women is still evident. In terms of gender wage disparity, South Korea holds the top spot with a significant gap of 30%.