Police said they have arrested a total of 29 suspects so far in an intensive investigation into the spread of false information causing social disorder, including content related to the Middle East war, the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, and infringement of citizens' voting rights.
According to the Korean National Police Agency's Task Force for Responding to the Spread of False Information, police investigated 38 accounts that spread false information related to the Middle East war, such as claims that "900,000 barrels of crude oil were headed to North Korea." As a result, they arrested 17 people and referred 11 to prosecutors.
Regarding false information distorting the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, police investigated 74 accounts, arresting nine people and referring three. Police are focusing on false information including claims that "North Korean troops were involved during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement."
In cases of false information related to the infringement of citizens' voting rights, police investigated 67 accounts, arresting three people and referring one.
Regarding the recent rumor of an "official document scrapping performance bonuses at Samsung Electronics and SK hynix," which surfaced mainly on social media, police are currently investigating 12 accounts.
"We will swiftly conclude the investigations being conducted through the task force," a Korean National Police Agency official said. "We plan to respond actively to malicious and organized false information that causes social disorder."
