South Korean lawmaker proposes bill to block profits of malicious YouTubers

South Korean politician Lee Jun-seok has introduced a legislative amendment aimed at curbing the financial gains of "cyber wreckers," a term used for malicious YouTubers who profit from exposing private information and making threats. The proposed bill targets the monetization of content used for defamation with commercial intent.

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This amendment specifically targets cyber wreckers.

Lee, leader of the Reform Party, announced the amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act on July 4. The legislation seeks to confiscate profits derived from confirmed cases of defamation for commercial gain. It also mandates that large internet service providers, such as YouTube, must block advertising revenue for such content within 30 days of a guilty verdict.

"This amendment specifically targets cyber wreckers," Lee stated on Facebook, emphasizing two key provisions: confiscation of criminal profits and a 30-day deadline for platforms to halt monetization. He clarified that "defamation based on factual assertion" is not simply about "telling the truth." Under current law, he argued, wreckers can avoid confiscation by claiming ignorance.

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If they still make money after going to jail, the 'wrecking' business is profitable.

Lee referenced the "Tzuyang incident" as a prime example, where "cyber wreckers" received prison sentences for exposing private lives and making threats but continued to profit from their content. "If they still make money after going to jail, the 'wrecking' business is profitable," he said. Lee vowed to "allow criticism of the powerful and privileged, but suppress the business of indiscriminate exposure for commercial gain."

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allow criticism of the powerful and privileged, but suppress the business of indiscriminate exposure for commercial gain.