Gwangju City to Implement Uihyang Gwangju Legal Support Group System Starting March

Support for Victims of False Information Dissemination, Defamation, and Fake News

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 28th that it plans to operate the ‘Uihyang Gwangju Legal Support Group’ starting next month to provide legal support to citizens who have suffered damage due to fake news and the spread of false information.

The Uihyang Gwangju Legal Support Group is a system that provides legal services for the first time among metropolitan local governments nationwide, offering legal rights consultation and litigation representation for citizens who have suffered rights violations and mental damage caused by the spread of false information, fake news, defamation, etc., through social networking services (SNS).

Since October last year, Gwangju has conducted prior consultations with related organizations such as the Gwangju Bar Association and internal reviews, and plans to revise related ordinances to establish the basis for operating the Legal Support Group, which will be promulgated and enforced as of the 1st of next month. The city will also form a team of support members (lawyers) to carry out legal support tasks and focus on assisting victims.

Any citizen who has been unfairly harmed by false information or fake news on the internet or various SNS platforms can apply for consultation and legal support from the Uihyang Gwangju Legal Support Group. If selected as a support target by the Gwangju Citizens’ Rights Committee, they will receive necessary assistance such as consultation and litigation representation from lawyers belonging to the Legal Support Group to ensure prompt recovery of damages.

However, general legal issues that can be addressed through existing legal support systems currently in operation, such as free legal counseling offices, administrative litigation public defender systems, and Legal Home Doctor services, are excluded from the support scope.

Chae Kyung-gi, the city’s Legal Affairs Officer, said, “Through this system, we will actively protect the rights of citizens who have suffered unfair damage and strive to create a just and considerate Gwangju,” and added, “We hope citizens will actively use the Uihyang Gwangju Legal Support Group.”