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The number of Korean users on the messaging platform Telegram, where sexually explicit deepfakes are being illegally distributed recently, surged to a record high in August, according to data from the app analysis service Mobile Index, Thursday.

Experts are calling for stronger countermeasures as around 100,000 of the new Telegram users, or about one-third of the increase, are reported to be teenagers.

The data showed the number of monthly active Telegram users in Korea recorded over 3.47 million in August, an increase of 311,130 from the previous month. This marks the largest monthly surge since Android and Apple began tracking their app markets in March 2021.

In particular, the number of active users in their teens jumped by 99,980, rising from 411,754 in July to 511,734 in August, making up 32.1 percent of the total increase.

This far outpaces other age groups, with users in their 50s increasing by 28,421 and those in their 60s and older by 4,291 during the same period.

Users aged 12 and older are able to access Telegram via app stores in Korea.

Recently, deepfake sex crimes, which involve the manipulation of a person's photo or video to include sexually exploitative material and distributing them via social media platforms like Telegram, have become a major social issue.

The problem is particularly concerning because a significant portion of both the perpetrators and victims are minors.

According to the National Police Agency, a total of 118 reports of deepfake crimes were received from Aug. 26 to Friday, during an intensive crackdown. Of 33 suspects identified, 31 were teenagers, and six out of seven arrests were also minors.

The Women's Human Rights Institute under the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reported that 288 out of 781 people, or 36.9 percent, of those seeking support for deepfake-related crimes this year were minors.

The frequent online exposure of deepfake sex crime controversies is believed to have fueled a rapid increase in teenagers accessing Telegram, many of whom may be accessing the platform out of curiosity.

As the platform's user base grows, especially among teenagers, concerns are mounting that deepfake crimes may continue to escalate.

Heo Min-sook, a researcher at the National Assembly Research Service, warned that approaching deepfake crimes with mild curiosity can have the unintended consequence of increasing the number of victims.

"It is nearly impossible to fully restrict platform usage to prevent crimes in today's social media-driven society," she said.

She emphasized the necessity of harsher penalties for perpetrators to underscore the seriousness of distributing deepfake sexual exploitation materials via Telegram. She also highlighted the importance of providing a supportive environment for victims.

"It is essential to make clear that deepfake crimes and the sharing of these videos are serious offenses, so individuals understand the potential consequences," Heo said.

"It is also crucial to report these crimes promptly and consistently inform victims that they have access to adequate counseling support."