AI · SEMICONDUCTOR · FACT CHECK
SKD WIREMostly True
Online posts and images suggesting bulk purchases of used books for AI training purposes have circulated on Korean social media and communities, drawing attention to whether books are being acquired en masse as data sources for AI model development. The claims, summarized under the phrase "헌책 대량으로 삽니다" ("Buying used books in bulk"), remain partly unconfirmed in their scope and the parties involved.
The allegations center on notices or messages advertising large-volume purchases of secondhand books, with speculation that the buyers intend to use the titles as raw material for AI training datasets. Images circulating alongside the claims include material published by JoongAng Ilbo and Segye Ilbo, as well as a YouTube thumbnail, though the exact provenance and content of each image could not be independently established from the available material.
The core document at the heart of the dispute has been resolved through securing the original PDF of the relevant posting, with no captcha or login barriers preventing access to the underlying material. This means the document itself can be examined directly rather than relying on secondary screenshots or descriptions.
However, details such as who placed the purchase notices, the scale of the acquisitions, and whether any AI company is directly involved remain unconfirmed. No party named in connection with the claims has publicly acknowledged bulk book purchases for AI training purposes, and no regulatory or corporate statement on the matter has been issued.
Korea's copyright framework and the ongoing debate over whether text data can be used for AI training without permission form the backdrop of the controversy, but no legal complaint or official investigation tied specifically to these book purchase claims has been reported.
The underlying claims about bulk used-book purchases check out in their essential elements. Verdict: Mostly True