YouTubers referred to prosecutors for spreading false oil transfer claims

Authorities in South Korea have taken action against individuals accused of disseminating fabricated news regarding a significant oil transfer. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's cyber investigation unit has referred two YouTubers to the prosecution for allegedly spreading false information that 900,000 barrels of crude oil were moved from Ulsan to North Korea.

The baseless claims gained traction on various YouTube channels during a period of heightened global oil prices, exacerbated by international conflicts. The fabricated narrative suggested that the oil, stored in Ulsan, had been illicitly exported and ended up in North Korea. This disinformation prompted President Lee Jae-myung to order a rapid investigation, demanding that those responsible be identified and held accountable to deter future occurrences.

Police stated their commitment to upholding freedom of expression while strictly investigating and prosecuting malicious actors who produce and disseminate clearly false information that could incite social unrest. The investigation is part of a broader effort to combat the spread of harmful misinformation, particularly concerning sensitive economic and geopolitical issues.

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We will actively guarantee freedom of expression, but we will strictly investigate and prosecute, according to law and principles, acts of producing and spreading clearly malicious false facts that cause social confusion.