Police arrest woman for spreading fake Gwangju Uprising newspaper image

South Korean police have apprehended a woman in her 50s for disseminating a fabricated image of a newspaper online, which falsely portrayed the 1980 Gwangju Uprising as an event instigated by North Korean spies. The suspect was arrested just three days after posting the image on her social media account.

The fabricated image was designed to resemble a page from the Gwangju Ilbo newspaper dated May 20, 1980. It contained the false assertion that the Gwangju Uprising was the result of directives from North Korea. Authorities suspect the image was created using generative artificial intelligence (AI).

The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency launched a probe into the spread of false information related to the Gwangju Uprising on May 22. Police stated they would pursue the creators of such content with a zero-tolerance approach and would also request the deletion and blocking of these posts. Spreading false information about the Gwangju Uprising is punishable under the Special Act on the Gwangju Democratization Movement, with penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.

Through analysis of social media posts and tracking communication and account information, police identified the individual responsible for the post. The woman reportedly told investigators that she posted the image out of curiosity about people's reactions and denied creating it herself. Police are analyzing her mobile phone and other confiscated items to determine the original creator, the distribution path, and whether any accomplices or masterminds were involved. They are also looking into whether additional individuals have spread false information about the Gwangju Uprising through comments on the posts.

“

We will actively investigate false information related to the May 18th Uprising with a zero-tolerance principle and will also request deletion and blocking.