President Lee Orders Thorough Response to False Information
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- President Lee Jae-myung ordered a thorough response to the distribution of false and manipulated information.
- He emphasized that the Korea Communications Standards Commission's role is more about preventing misuse than promoting broadcasting and telecommunications.
- The president highlighted the significant societal costs of fake news and propaganda, urging the commission to establish order and norms.
President Lee Jae-myung has called for a rigorous approach to combating the spread of false and manipulated information. During a joint policy briefing with the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KCSC), and the Personal Information Protection Commission, Lee stressed that the KCSC's primary duty is to prevent the misuse of broadcasting and telecommunications, even more so than promoting them.
You must respond very thoroughly to the distribution of false and manipulated information and strive to prevent and preempt it.
"The problem lies in regulating those who exploit false or fake information for personal gain, political attacks, or to incite social division and conflict," Lee stated. He pointed to the immense societal costs incurred by fake news and propaganda, arguing that such phenomena erode rationality and foster a self-interested environment. The president urged the KCSC to establish norms and order to counteract these negative effects.
The role of the Korea Communications Standards Commission is not only to promote broadcasting and telecommunications but also, much more importantly, to prevent their misuse.
Lee's remarks underscore a growing concern in South Korea about the impact of misinformation on public discourse and social cohesion. The administration appears poised to strengthen regulatory measures to address these challenges, aiming to foster a more informed and stable society.
The problem lies in regulating those who exploit false or fake information for personal gain, political attacks, or to incite social division and conflict.
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.