Yoon's Side "Democratic Party YouTuber Reported for Sedition, Restriction of Freedom of Expression"

Yoon Gapgeun: "KakaoTalk Censorship Is an Act of Rebellion Disrupting the Constitutional Order"

Yoon Gap-geun, lawyer for President Yoon Seok-yeol, stated on the 11th that the Democratic Party of Korea's accusation of conservative YouTubers for 'sedition' is "a clear unconstitutional declaration restricting freedom of expression."

Yoon Gap-geun, lawyer for President Yoon Seok-yeol, is announcing the position regarding the arrest warrant issued against President Yoon in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 31st of last month. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

In a statement titled "The Democratic Party's 'KakaoTalk Censorship' is a Rebellion Disrupting the Constitutional Order," Lawyer Yoon said, "The Democratic Party intends to prohibit even conversations that differ from their views by invading the private lives of citizens," adding, "They are censoring individual freedom of expression and destroying the free democratic basic order."

He further stated, "This is a destruction of the constitutional order and a rebellion," and added, "The Democratic Party has already filed complaints against polling agencies because the polls did not suit their tastes, indicating that anyone who thinks differently will be punished."

Earlier, the Democratic Party announced that it had filed charges of sedition against 10 YouTubers, including operators of Shinuihansu, Shin Namseongyeondae, Gong Byeongho TV, Ground C, Kim Chaehwan's Sisaida, and Kim Sangjin TV. Jeon Yong-gi, co-chairman of the Democratic Party's National Communication Committee, said at a National Assembly press conference the day before, "Spreading fake news through communities and KakaoTalk is punishable as sedition," and added, "Even ordinary citizens will be firmly charged with sedition or spreading fake news."

The People Power Party responded by calling it "intimidation of the public" and announced plans for legal action. Joo Jin-woo, legal advisory committee member of the People Power Party, said in a statement that "Jeon Yong-gi's remarks constitute coercion, threats, and defamation due to the dissemination of false information against the general public," and added, "We will file a criminal complaint against Jeon early next week."

Joo also pointed out, "Since martial law has already been lifted, sedition charges cannot be established, and sedition incitement charges are even less likely to be valid," and criticized, "Trying to silence citizens critical of the Democratic Party by linking them to 'sedition and incitement' is an extremely anti-democratic act that directly violates the constitutional principle prohibiting censorship."

Park Soo-min, the floor spokesperson, urged in a commentary, "After suing YouTubers for sedition, now they are preparing to censor KakaoTalk contents and even accuse citizens," and appealed, "Please stop intimidating the citizens."