Regarding the Late Son Jeong-min Case 'Fake News'... Police Chief "Strict Response to Clear Malicious Issues"

Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong is announcing the police reform promotion plan to realize human rights policing at the Seoul Seodaemun Police Agency on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] As 'fake news' related to the case of university student the late Son Jeong-min, who went missing and was found dead at Hangang Park, continues to spread, the police have decided to take strong action against malicious false information.

On the 14th, Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong stated at a press briefing, "I would like to say that the National Investigation Headquarters is determined to respond strictly to cases where complaints or accusations are made, or where it is clearly judged to be malicious fake news with intent."

Commissioner Kim himself recently became the target of fake news by a YouTuber. This YouTuber created a fake news video impersonating Song Jeong-ae, Chief of Daejeon Police Agency, on the 26th of last month, and the next day posted a fake news video titled ‘Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong’s urgent announcement to the public: "I take responsibility for the Son Jeong-min case... The Son Jeong-min case is not over yet."’

In response, the Police Agency posted a comment on their official YouTube account stating, "This video is unrelated to Police Commissioner General Kim Chang-ryong, and legal action will be taken against the dissemination of false information." Additionally, fake news claiming that the son of Seoul Police Chief Jang Ha-yeon is named 'Jang Chen' and that a high-ranking police official was involved in Son’s death also circulated.

Currently, the cases involving Commissioner Kim and Chief Song of Daejeon Police Agency are being investigated by the Chungbuk Police Agency, while the case involving Chief Jang of Seoul Police Agency is under investigation by the Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency.