Jung Cheong-rae: We will take the most stringent legal action against fake news about President Lee's flight to China and slush fund claims
The Democratic Party of Korea announced intentions to initiate stringent legal measures against fake news regarding President Lee Jae-myung's alleged plans to seek refuge in China and accusations of creating a slush fund.
On October 20th, the Democratic Party of Korea declared that it would pursue the most severe legal actions against claims made during a recent YouTube broadcast by Jeon Han-gil, alleging that President Lee Jae-myung has been preparing to seek refuge in China while generating slush funds and leaking military intelligence. This announcement follows President Lee's vehement denial of the accusations, which he described as 'foolish and malicious defamation,' demanding a serious response to such false reports. Furthermore, the party rallied around this initiative, emphasizing the legal repercussions for those spreading fake news.
During a Supreme Council meeting, party leader Jung Cheong-rae instructed his members to confront the bizarre claims, including the unfounded rumors of President Lee preparing to flee to China and accumulating significant personal funds. He highlighted that existing laws to combat misinformation, particularly the Information and Communications Network Act, have already been passed, and called upon judicial authorities to carry out rigorous legal actions against those responsible. His comments reflect a robust commitment to tackling misinformation that could harm political credibility and national interests.
The allegations made by Jeon Han-gil's video pose serious implications for President Lee, as they involve accusations of national security breaches and illicit financial dealings. Opposition party members underscored concerns by referencing prior defamation cases against President Lee, where the Supreme Court ruled in favor of investigating similar allegations. Furthermore, the Democratic Party reaffirmed its pledge to take all necessary actions against undue attacks on its leadership while urging authorities to initiate investigations into entities risking national integrity through the dissemination of false information.