Actor Jung Yoon-min Clarifies Viral Photo of Brad Pitt Was AI-Generated

Actor Jung Yoon-min has revealed that a photo he recently posted on social media, which appeared to show him with Hollywood star Brad Pitt, was actually an AI-generated image.

On May 11, Jung posted an explanation on his social media, stating, "So many people have been asking if Brad Pitt visited Korea after seeing the photo in Bukchon, so I am posting this clarification. To get straight to the point, it is an AI-generated image."

He added, "I shared it lightly to raise awareness about how frightening it is that technology can now create such sophisticated images of real people and backgrounds, but it ended up receiving more attention than I intended."

He continued, "We live in an amazing era where technology has advanced to the point where it even makes the news. Everyone, let's be careful not to be deceived by fake photos."

On May 9, Jung had posted a photo of himself with Brad Pitt in Bukchon, Seoul, on his social media with the caption, "I can't believe I met 'Brother Pitt' in a Bukchon alleyway. This is huge."

Immediately after the photo was released, a debate erupted on social media and online communities regarding its authenticity. While some netizens were surprised and asked, "Did the real Brad Pitt come to Bukchon?", others raised suspicions, commenting, "It looks like a composite" or "Isn't this AI?"

Despite the controversy, Jung remained silent about the authenticity of the photo for two days.

However, as the 'Brad Pitt Korea visit' rumor gained traction—even leading to news reports—and concerns were raised about potential portrait rights issues regarding AI photos using real people, he finally stepped forward to clarify that it was a fake image created with AI.

Meanwhile, Brad Pitt previously made an official visit to Korea in 2022 to promote the film 'Bullet Train.'

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video by Choi Gang-san | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.