Tim Alper is a journalist who covers betting news and regulation for CasinoBeats. He joined the CasinoBeats team in May 2025. He reports on breaking news and developments in the world of betting, casinos, and...
Read Full BioThe South Korean casino operator Kangwon Land has vowed action against the creators of a deepfake video that appears to show the soccer player Son Heung-min endorsing a Kangwon Land-themed gambling app.
The newspaper Seoul Shinmun reported on August 13 that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Cyber Investigation Unit is currently investigating an illegal gambling app operation at the request of Kangwon Land.
Kangwon Land operates the High1 Resort, the only casino in the country that admits domestic passport holders. High1 also offers a range of non-gambling-related visitor attractions, including a ski resort, a golf course, and two hotels.
Police say that videos that use artificial intelligence-powered tools were distributed to make it seem like celebrities, including Son Heung-min, are endorsing an illegal gambling platform.
The app is designed to resemble an official Kangwon Land creation, and features realistic, AI-generated footage that makes it appear as though Son is affiliated with the platform.
Son Heung-min Casino Ads are AI Fakes, Says Operator
The video in question also features other celebrities, such as major broadcast network news anchors.
The bogus celebrities claim to be “ambassadors” for the app. The video has been uploaded to several major social media networks.
The deepfake celebrities tell viewers why they “recommend the Kangwon Land app to everyone.”
They also appear to explain how “convenient” the app is. The deepfakes claim that “all winnings are deposited into your bank account in just five minutes.”
The operator explained that it does not operate any online casino app or offer any non-land-based gambling services.
Video Circulating on YouTube & Instagram
In a press release, Kangwon Land said: “Illegal online sites impersonating Kangwon Land are cleverly synthesizing the faces, voices, and speech of Kangwon Land officials, sports stars, and other celebrities using AI. They are trying to lure users to their illegal gambling sites via YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms.”
It added that there was a high chance the app and the offending video were the brainchild of phishing operators.
Kangwon Land said that it would also respond by “significantly expanding” the size of its illegal gambling monitoring team.
Son is one of South Korea’s most popular athletes. Son’s popularity in his home nation rose this year after he captained Tottenham Hotspur to victory in the 2024-205 Europa League.
He recently completed a multi-million dollar transfer to the MLS team LAFC.
Earlier this month, the South Korean TV celebrity star and webtoon artist Lee Mal-nyeon, aka ChimChakMan, promised to take legal action against a firm that used AI to make it seem as though he was promoting online gambling apps to his followers.
Similar claims have been made elsewhere in Asia. In July, the Malaysian Instagram and TikTok star Yipin said advertisers were ripping her content and using AI tools to make it appear she was promoting illegal betting sites.
Experts Warn That Fraudsters Turning to AI
The Korea Financial Consumer Protection Foundation has recently warned that AI technology is rapidly evolving into a tool for fraud.
It said that criminals are now using AI and deepfakes in phishing, romance scams, and investment fraud. The body said this was now true both domestically and internationally.
The Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice Policy claimed that police cases related to deepfakes increased more than sixfold in recent years.
The institute noted that case numbers have risen from 156 cases in 2021 to 964 cases in 2024. It stated that larger increases were anticipated at the end of 2025.
