Former nurse fined 1 million won for false claims about Gumi sleep dentistry clinic

A former employee of a dental clinic in Gumi has received a finalized fine of 1 million won after posting false information about its sleep dentistry treatment online.

The Gimcheon branch of the Daegu District Court issued a summary order against the former nurse for defamation under South Korea’s information and communications network law. The order became final on July 31.

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Work experience or opinions should be distinguished from presenting information that differs from objective facts as though it were true and damaging another person’s social evaluation

In September last year, the employee posted on the nursing community Nursecape under the title “Gumi Sleep Dentistry.” The post said, in substance, that nurses at the clinic decided how to prepare medication without a doctor’s instructions and had to respond alone when emergencies occurred.

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Posting false information on an information network with the purpose of disparaging someone can lead to criminal responsibility

The court found that the statements constituted false claims about the clinic’s operator and were posted through an information network with the purpose of disparaging the victim. The clinic said its actual sedation procedures involve preparing medication and monitoring patients according to medical staff judgment and instructions, with medical staff responding to emergencies.

Kim Eui-joong, a lawyer at the firm representing the clinic, said personal work experience and opinions must be distinguished from presenting objectively false claims as fact. “Posting false information on an information network with the purpose of disparaging someone can lead to criminal responsibility,” he said. The Sleep Miracle network, which operates the clinic’s headquarters, said it would respond in principle to distorted or unverified claims and consider legal action when it finds false information online.

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We will respond in principle to acts that distort the facts or spread unverified information as though it were true