[IssueLaw] Online Malicious Comments, Are These Also Punishable?

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun] Amid the continuous stream of malicious comments (malpl) targeting celebrities and politicians in online spaces, what is the actual level of punishment for these malplers?

Recently, an actor attempted an extreme act due to malpl and threats, falling into a critical condition. In November last year, a university student who was suffering from excessive malpl on the university student community 'Everytime' was found dead.

In the 'Lee Park Choi Legal Center' released through the Asia Economy YouTube channel, lawyers Choi Eun-young and Lee Ki-yoon discussed the 'malpl crimes' in online spaces.

The lawyers first examined the types of online spaces where malpl can be punished. According to the lawyers, not only well-known online communities and social networking services (SNS), but also one-on-one conversations on online blogs, posts and comments on company intranets are subject to punishment.

The lawyers then reviewed the regulations that punish malpl in online spaces. The regulations that can punish malpl are largely divided into two categories: defamation and insult. The two lawyers revealed the types of these two regulations as well as the differences in sentencing. They also introduced actual malpl cases surrounding celebrities and the sentences that courts have actually handed down to malplers.

Lawyer Lee Ki-yoon said, "Looking at the punishments, one might think they are minor," adding, "(Considering the process until the verdict and subsequent civil measures) it is by no means a minor crime." He continued, "Please consider these points more carefully before posting malpl."