Suspect Arrested for Mocking Victims' Photos, Committing 'Secondary Harm' in Sewol and Itaewon Disasters

In a significant move against online defamation and harassment, South Korean police have arrested a suspect accused of perpetuating a three-year campaign of misinformation and slander targeting victims and families of the Sewol and Itaewon disasters. The National Investigation Headquarters (국수본) announced the arrest of an individual, identified only as 'A,' for allegedly posting over 70 false and defamatory messages across various online platforms between 2021 and 2024.

The gravity of the alleged offenses is amplified by the suspect's use of victims' families' photographs in some posts, coupled with baseless claims that grieving families from the Sewol ferry disaster were 'recycled' as Itaewon disaster victims. This malicious act has inflicted profound emotional distress on the bereaved families, who reported feeling 'devastated' as images of their loved ones were turned into objects of ridicule online for years.

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Victims' families stated during the investigation that they were devastated as their family photos were ridiculed online for years.

This arrest marks the second detention since the National Police Agency established a specialized 'Secondary Victimization Crimes Investigation Division' last July, specifically to combat crimes that further harm victims and their families after major incidents. The police are taking a zero-tolerance approach, vowing to pursue legal accountability for all instances of false information dissemination and defamation related to major disasters. The investigation team is currently pursuing 23 other online posts suspected of constituting secondary victimization.

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We will hold those responsible for spreading false information and defamation related to major disasters accountable without exception.