Telegram logo (Reuters-Yonhap)

South Korea's media regulator said Monday that Telegram has pledged to adopt a zero-tolerance policy and immediately remove deepfake pornography and other illegal content from its platform, in cooperation with local authorities.

The Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC) said it had a face-to-face working-level meeting with Telegram on Friday, raising concerns over deepfake content involving doctored images of Korean women, which has surfaced on Telegram in recent months.

In response, Telegram acknowledged the severity of the issue in Korea and vowed to take strict action against such illegal material.

"Telegram said they understood the situation in Korea where deepfake porn content has become a significant social issue," KCSC Chairman Ryu Hee-lim stated in a press conference, adding that the platform will take stern measures to combat the problem.

In addition to targeting digital sex crimes, Telegram will actively remove content related to pornography, prostitution, drugs, and gambling, as requested by the KCSC, which holds exclusive authority to review and flag illegal content.

The platform has also committed to working closely with Korean authorities, including the police, and will hold regular working-level meetings with the KCSC.

As part of these efforts, a new hotline will be established between Telegram and the KCSC to expedite responses to content violations.

The KCSC anticipates that illegal content will now be removed more swiftly following the recent agreement.

Telegram has recently removed a total of 148 cases of sexual exploitation material from its platform from Sept. 3-25 as requested by the KCSC. (Yonhap)