A fabricated video of President Yoon Suk Yeol apologizing for corruption and incompetence has surfaced online ahead of April’s general elections, prompting authorities to take steps to remove it.

The video, recently uploaded onto Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, depicted Yoon saying that his “incompetent and corrupt” government has habitually committed foul acts and injustices, ruining the nation and causing people pain.

Initially, the video was suspected to be a deepfake creation, but it was later discovered to be a fabricated compilation of Yoon’s statements made during a TV debate in February 2022 when he was a presidential candidate.

Police on Thursday requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), the telecommunications watchdog, to remove and block the video.

In an emergency meeting on Friday, the KCSC unanimously granted the police request, deciding that the video has the potential to cause significant social confusion.

The watchdog plans to request the social network platforms de
lete or block the video.