"Conservative YouTubers Spreading Fake News About 'No Symptoms' of COVID-19 Draw Frowns"

"There Is Nothing to Treat" Some YouTubers Produce Fake News in Hospitals
Broadcasting Commission "Will Strictly Respond to COVID-19 Fake News"
Experts "Increasing Fake News Aggravates Social Confusion"

Conservative-leaning YouTube channel 'Sinui Hansu' host Shin Hye-sik has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The photo shows Shin Hye-sik broadcasting from the hospital. Photo by YouTube channel 'Sinui Hansu' video capture·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Even if I test positive, I don't feel sick.", "It's hard to tell if the early symptoms of COVID-19 are just a cold."

As the number of COVID-19 cases rises, some conservative YouTubers are spreading false information such as "there is nothing to be treated at the hospital" and "only certain groups are tested," causing increased confusion among citizens.

In particular, when some YouTubers produce fake news, their channel subscribers watch it and generate further false information, creating a social problem. Experts point out that some YouTubers are using fake news to shift COVID-19-related responsibility onto the government.

As so-called "vlogs" documenting the self-quarantine lives of COVID-19 positive individuals spread, some conservative YouTubers are using this vlog format to disseminate fake news.

Shin Hyesik, CEO of the conservative YouTube channel "Shinui Hansu," which has 1.29 million subscribers, tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 15th.

While live streaming from his hospital bed, he claimed, "Why are only certain groups being investigated? All right-wingers are quarantined, but former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon is allowed to roam freely. The standards are different," and added, "Is it a crime to catch COVID? Isn't it because of the government?"

Shin also said, "There is nothing to be treated (at the hospital)," and criticized, "They don't even do tests and just sit there. It’s better to stay at home. Why don’t they trust the people? Are we potential criminals? Do they think everyone will go out if they stay home? Even advanced countries don’t do this."

The video has been viewed about 290,000 times, and some viewers sympathized, saying, "People who are not positive are afraid to go to the hospital and get diagnosed," and "Detaining Shin is oppression of the church and suppression of the YouTube broadcast."

'Mom Corps' Representative Joo Ok-soon. Photo by YouTube 'Joo Ok-soon TV Mom Broadcast' screenshot

Another conservative YouTuber, Joo Oksun, CEO of "Mom's Army," also tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the Gwanghwamun rally.

She said during a hospital broadcast, "After taking medicine, my cough completely subsided. It’s hard to tell if the early symptoms of COVID-19 are a cold. Maybe because I’m resting, I woke up in the morning without coughing once and am recovering well."

Netizens responded to Joo’s remarks with comments like, "The vaccine was a scam," and "Pneumonia took the blame for COVID, so pneumonia mortality decreased."

In another broadcast, she raised a conspiracy theory, saying, "I think the government is using COVID-19 by any means to cover up scandals like the ShillaJen incident, the Cho Kuk incident, and the Yoon Mee-hyang incident, and is driving the people into ideological oppression," and "They might do anything in the future to restrict religious freedom under the pretext of COVID-19."

In summary, when some YouTubers make statements about COVID-19 issues, their channel subscribers expand on these in the comment sections, producing new fake news. These broadcasts effectively become platforms for generating fake news.

Citizens are voicing criticism against the excessive YouTube activities of some conservative YouTubers. While receiving treatment support from the state, there are calls for punishment of YouTubers who produce fake news instead of properly cooperating with medical staff and quarantine authorities.

This critical public opinion is also reflected in the Blue House's national petition. On the 25th, a post titled "We petition for strict punishment and legal amendment for fake news producers" was uploaded on the Blue House petition board.

The petitioner said, "Strong legal amendments are needed for those shameless people who habitually create and spread fake news to stir social confusion. Fake news, the social evil, should neither exist nor be disseminated," and "I petition for strong legal amendments for a healthy Korean society." As of 11 a.m. on the 28th, the petition had received over 2,950 endorsements.

Under current law, it is not possible to prevent conservative YouTubers from broadcasting inside hospitals. This is because there are no provisions in the Medical Service Act or the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act (Infectious Disease Prevention Act) that prohibit or punish filming inside hospitals.

However, if conservative YouTubers spread false information or make defamatory remarks, they can be punished under the Information and Communications Network Act or the Criminal Act.

On the 25th, a post titled "We Petition for Strict Punishment Law Amendment for Fake News Producers" was uploaded on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture.

In response to this situation, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has stated its position to strictly respond to fake news and false manipulated information that interfere with COVID-19 quarantine activities.

On the 25th, the KCC said, "COVID-19 fake news incites public anxiety and distrust, obstructs quarantine activities, and threatens public safety, constituting a serious social crime," and added, "The KCC will operate a pan-government response system with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and the National Police Agency to swiftly delete and block fake news and respond strictly."

Meanwhile, experts expressed concern that if such fake news spreads amid a generally unstable social situation, citizens’ confusion could worsen.

Professor Kwak Geumju of Seoul National University’s Department of Psychology said, "There are multiple complex factors behind YouTubers spreading fake news related to COVID-19," and added, "Some YouTubers use fake news to criticize the government and shift COVID-19 responsibility, while others spread rumors blaming the opposition party. The more such fake news increases, the more unstable society becomes."

Professor Kwak urged caution, saying, "It takes quite some time to verify that fake news is indeed 'fake,' and during that time, people may believe false information as true."