Who are those faces on our bodies?... Couple bewildered after wedding photos were stolen [What do you think?]

The bride's red stockings are identical. /Photo = FMKorea [Financial News] An engaged couple who did not take their own wedding photos but instead used artificial intelligence (AI) to superimpose their faces onto another couple's photo and posted it on social media (SNS) apologized after the fact of photo theft became known.
Although the matter was settled following a protest by the original photographer, concerns are rising that the easy appropriation of others' photos and portraits could become commonplace as AI synthesis becomes more accessible. On the 25th, a wedding photo became a hot topic on a social media thread after being posted with the caption, "You used AI to composite only my face onto my wedding photo.
Please take the photo down. " The couple, who were the subjects of the original photo, directly protested in the comments section of a mobile wedding invitation posted by an engaged couple announcing their marriage, and subsequently revealed the real original photo.
In the photo released by A, who posted the message, a man in a gray suit and striped tie and a woman in a sleeveless wedding dress and red shoes were sitting side by side on chairs. The background, composition, clothing, and pose were identical to the wedding invitation photo in question, with only the face being different.
The post garnered significant attention, accumulating over 11,000 likes and 281 comments as of the 27th, and spread rapidly across various online communities and social media. Photographer B, who took the original photo, subsequently commented on the post, stating, "I am reiterating this as it has been confirmed that the photo has not been deleted from Instagram and the thread despite my previous notice asking that it not be used.
" He added, "I took this photo myself, and the copyright to the image itself belongs to me as the photographer, separate from the portrait rights of the person in the photo. " He continued, "I have never agreed to or permitted the use or modification of the photo," and demanded, "Please stop using the photo and delete all photos posted on Instagram and the thread.
" As the controversy escalated, the prospective couple's side commented, identifying themselves as "the bride's side regarding this stolen photo," apologizing and stating, "Good at AI "I paid a friend a small fee to do it, but I didn't know it was identity theft. My friend said they didn't think it was because the photos were taken from Pinterest and they were of Korean people," they explained.
They continued, "I am aware that AI itself is wrong, and I have deleted all the photos and removed them from my photo album. I created them for social media because I was pressed for time," adding, "I apologize once again to the bride and groom who must have been hurt, and since their contact information wasn't uploaded, I also apologized to the photographer via DM.
" They further requested, "We are also victims and do not want this to become an issue any further. We respectfully ask that you take down the photos.
" Afterward, the couple, identified as A, announced, "The bride on the other side called the store directly, and we spoke with her," adding, "We heard her sincere apology and explanation over the phone, and we concluded the conversation amicably," bringing the incident to a close. Netizens who heard the story expressed concern that the theft of others' photos through AI synthesis has become commonplace.
Netizens reacted with comments such as, "So now they even use AI to alter and steal other people's wedding photos," "I felt the image looked a bit awkward, but I didn't leave a comment because I felt like I was being unnecessarily argumentative," and "I assumed they would have taken a similar concept at a studio, but this looks too much like the original. " Meanwhile, even if only the face was changed using AI, if the photographer's creative expression—such as the background, composition, and pose—remains intact, it constitutes a derivative work resulting from the unauthorized modification of the original photograph.
Infringement of economic copyright is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won, and the act of modifying the original work without permission also constitutes an infringement of the moral right to maintain integrity, which is subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.
However, copyright infringement is, in principle, a "crime subject to private prosecution," meaning that punishment can only be imposed if the victim files a complaint.
As in this case, if the photographer accepts the apology, it does not lead to criminal punishment.
The bride's side of the engaged couple who used the photo without permission explained that they "did not know it was stolen.
The bride's red stockings are identical. /Photo = FMKorea [Financial News] An engaged couple who did not take their own wedding photos but instead used artificial intelligence (AI) to superimpose their faces onto another couple's photo and posted it on social media (SNS) apologized after the fact of photo theft became known.The bride's red stockings are identical. /Photo = FMKorea [Financial News] An engaged couple who did not take their own wedding photos but instead used artificial intelligence (AI) to superimpose their faces onto another couple's photo and posted it on social media (SNS) apologized after the fact of photo theft became known.
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