"Request to Punish Defamation by False Statement Author" Petition
Miryang Mayor to Announce Apology Statement
As the identities of the perpetrators involved in the 'Miryang Middle School Girl Group Sexual Assault Case' are being consecutively revealed, some of those accused have submitted petitions to the police claiming they are "unrelated to the incident."
On the 24th, the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency and Yonhap News reported that nine individuals, including Mr. A, who were identified as perpetrators of the case, visited the Miryang Police Station the previous day to submit a petition requesting that those who fabricated false information be punished for defamation. The police, having received the petition, plan to conduct a pre-investigation, including interviewing the petitioners and reviewing various community posts, YouTube videos, and other materials. It is also known that they filed complaints with the Korea Communications Standards Commission requesting the removal of broadcasts that used their photos unrelated to the incident.
In addition to these individuals, as false information has widely spread online, the number of lawsuits and petitions related to this has also increased. According to the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency, as of the 23rd, there have been approximately 110 lawsuits and petitions related to the Miryang sexual assault case. These complaints reportedly stem from cases where individuals were mistakenly identified as the perpetrators’ girlfriends or where YouTube channels disclosed personal information without consent, resulting in defamation.
Meanwhile, the Miryang Middle School Girl Group Sexual Assault Case involves 44 high school students in Miryang, Gyeongnam, who collectively sexually assaulted one middle school girl over the course of a year in 2004. The perpetrators, who were high school students at the time, are now in their 30s. Due to reasons such as having reached settlements with some of the victim’s family members, the perpetrators were either not prosecuted or received probation, leaving no criminal records.
The case has regained attention since the beginning of this month as the identities of the perpetrators were disclosed. As the controversy grew, it is reported that Miryang City and the City Council will issue an apology statement on the 25th. Miryang Mayor Ahn Byung-gu is expected to apologize to the victim and the public on behalf of the citizens and pledge to eradicate sexual crimes and create a human rights-friendly city.
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