Netizens Continue to Reveal Perpetrators' Personal Information
Perpetrator Parents' Businesses and Workplaces Targeted with Negative Reviews
"Private Sanctions May Lead to Criminal Charges"
It has come to light that Lee Young-seung, a teacher at Howon Elementary School in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, who took his own life two years ago, had sent a total of 4 million won over eight months as medical expenses to the parent involved in the so-called 'PET bottle incident,' sparking public outrage online. Amid this, the workplace of the parent in question was revealed on social media, leading to a series of review bombing attacks.
(Photo by Getty Images Bank)
On the 20th, a social media account exposing the identity of the parent who bullied teacher Lee Young-seung posted a captured map image. The photo showed a location near Dobong Station. Based on this, netizens speculated that the place marked was the workplace of Parent A, who had demanded compensation from teacher Lee Young-seung.
Furthermore, the operator of this social media account disclosed Parent A’s job title. In response, a netizen said, "I contacted the audit office that oversees the place where A works," adding, "The audit office was not yet aware of this issue. So, I explained the seriousness of the matter and the public outrage."
One netizen pointed out, "When visiting this business, there are notices asking customers to be kind to employees who suffer from emotional labor, warning that verbal abuse, assault, or sexual harassment can lead to punishment. This behavior is completely opposite to the bullying that Parent A personally demonstrated."
Subsequently, it was confirmed that Parent A’s workplace has been subjected to 'review bombing' on a portal site. As of the 21st, 1,446 reviews had been posted, with an overall rating of '1 star.'
Netizens left angry reviews such as, "I closed all accounts at this bank about 10 years ago, and I think that was a great decision," "Is this where a murderer works?" "If you injure your finger here, can you get 4 million won?" and "I closed my account. This is all I can do, but I’m angry."
Meanwhile, according to an MBC report, Lee Young-seung’s father is considering filing a criminal complaint against the parent. However, despite his great sorrow and anger over losing his son, he asked people to stop spreading the parent’s personal information or blaming the students, saying that his late son would not have wanted his students to get hurt.
Continuous Private Sanctions Despite Concerns Over Defamation and Witch Hunts
On the 20th, a teacher who died after suffering from malicious complaints at a bank branch listed on a map application operated by a major portal was met with critical reviews condemning the offending parent. [Photo by KakaoMap]
Recently, there has been an increase in cases where rating systems, originally designed to share information about taste or service, are abused as means of private sanctions.
In particular, indiscriminate review bombing has been directed at stores and workplaces operated by parents suspected of filing malicious complaints against the deceased teacher, disrupting normal business activities. Some businesses unrelated to the incident have also suffered damage.
Earlier, in relation to teacher Lee Young-seung, online reviews for the targeted branch flooded with comments such as "We will restore the ratings if the offending parent quits the company," and "I will close all accounts at this bank and use another bank," signaling calls for dismissal and boycotts.
During the Daejeon teacher death case, a gimbap restaurant reportedly run by the offending parent faced protests and eventually closed. Review bombing also occurred at a hair salon and gym operated by other parents.
However, such private sanctions by netizens can be punishable as defamation. Under the current Information and Communications Network Act, publicly revealing facts with the intent to defame can result in imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won. There is also a risk of innocent victims if inaccurate information is disclosed.
Nevertheless, cases of private sanctions continue to emerge. In June, a YouTuber disclosed the identity of a suspect in the 'Busan spinning kick' incident, and during the time of the Seo-i Elementary School teacher’s suicide, netizens recklessly exposed personal information, claiming "three-term ruling and opposition party lawmakers are behind this."
‘Divergent Legal Sentiments’ as the Cause of Private Sanctions
According to a survey conducted by Real Research Korea in June with 5,000 respondents, 50.1% answered that they "agree with private sanctions." 37.6% responded that "if the state or law does not impose sufficient punishment, personal punishment is necessary," and 12.5% said they "fully agree with personal punishment separate from state or legal sanctions." [Photo by Real Research Korea]
Experts point to 'divergent legal sentiments' as the cause of private sanctions. Private sanctions occur when there is a large gap between public legal sentiments and police investigations or court rulings.
According to a survey conducted by Real Research Korea in June with 5,000 respondents, 50.1% agreed with private sanctions. Among them, 37.6% said, "If the state or law does not impose sufficient punishment, individual punishment is necessary," and 12.5% said, "I fully agree with individual punishment separate from state or legal sanctions."
Professor Lee Yun-ho, Chair Professor of Police Studies at Korea Cyber University, said, "Engaging in private sanctions despite knowing the risk of punishment means dissatisfaction with the current judicial process," adding, "Because people do not trust the state, vigilantism is spreading widely."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
