Jeon Yonggi of the Democratic Party: "Even KakaoTalk 'incitement of rebellion' will be prosecuted"
People Power Party strongly opposes, calling it "intimidation of the public"
The Democratic Party of Korea announced a policy stating that even ordinary citizens will be prosecuted if they spread fake news related to incitement of rebellion through KakaoTalk, prompting former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong to criticize the move.
According to political circles on the 12th, former Minister Won wrote on Facebook the previous day, "The Lee Jae-myung faction, which has taken control of the National Assembly, has manipulated not only the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the police but also the Constitutional Court and the judiciary, and now they say they will even censor the people's KakaoTalk," adding, "Is this really the Republic of Korea?"
He emphasized, "This is a sign and a strong warning that appears before a great disaster," and urged, "Fellow citizens, we must protect the Republic of Korea at all costs."
He also shared a press conference held the previous day (the 10th) by Jeon Yong-gi, the Democratic Party's National Communication Committee Chair, who stated, "Spreading fake news related to incitement of rebellion through KakaoTalk can be punished as incitement of rebellion."
At the press conference, Representative Jeon warned, "Even ordinary people who simply spread such content will be firmly prosecuted for incitement of rebellion," and added, "You must ensure that you do not participate in acts of rebellion."
In response, the People Power Party immediately opposed the move, calling it "intimidation of the public." Joo Jin-woo, legal advisory committee member of the People Power Party, said in a statement that "Representative Jeon's remarks constitute coercion, threats, and defamation by spreading false information against ordinary citizens," and announced, "We will file a criminal complaint against Representative Jeon early next week."
Regarding the ruling party's criticism of "KakaoTalk censorship," Representative Jeon responded on Facebook, saying, "Censorship is something that could only be imagined in a dictatorship created by President Yoon Seok-youl through martial law while watching far-right YouTube channels," and added, "No one should spread fake news inciting rebellion, whether on KakaoTalk or social media."
He further stated, "I don't know if an 'online Baekgol-dan' has been born, but those committing incitement of rebellion must clearly recognize that their claims are not freedom of expression but can be crimes."
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