Individuals who disseminated false information regarding damaged corpses and a fake statement impersonating the President in Korea have been referred to prosecution.
In South Korea, several individuals have been prosecuted for spreading false information online regarding the discovery of damaged corpses and impersonating the President. The Seoul Cyber Investigation Department announced that a man in his 30s, who operates the YouTube channel 'Daebojjang', has been referred to the prosecution for violating telecommunications laws. He allegedly posted videos claiming that multiple corpses missing their lower bodies were found in Korea and that there are 80,000 missing persons in the country, netting him approximately 2,421 dollars in illicit earnings from these videos.
Another case involved a man in his 30s who spread a fake statement impersonating President Lee Jae-myung on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He was charged with violations of the Telecommunications Business Act after posting deceitful information about proposed changes to taxation on foreign stocks. This individual reportedly confessed to authorities after they initiated an investigation following the circulation of his misleading posts. Both cases reflect growing concerns over misinformation and the potential threats it poses to public trust and safety.
The Seoul Cyber Investigation Department emphasized the balance between protecting freedom of expression and taking strong action against malicious or clearly fabricated information. They are committed to fostering a transparent and reliable society by addressing such criminal acts decisively, highlighting the continuing challenge posed by digital misinformation in South Korea.
