"Seven Fined for Spreading False Information about Ju Cheolhyeon Being in the Bottom 20%"

Court: "Intent to Defame Ahead of Primary"

Seven individuals who were indicted for spreading false evaluations about an incumbent member of the Democratic Party of Korea on social media have been sentenced to fines. The court determined that the dissemination of false information during the primary period was intended for defamation and could be fatal.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Suncheon Branch of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Yongkyu) announced on the 21st that it had sentenced A and six others, who were indicted for spreading false information related to the evaluation of an incumbent lawmaker (violation of the Public Official Election Act), to fines ranging from 3 million to 5 million won each.

The court considered that, given the timing ahead of the primary, the content could have been fatal, and judged that the intent to defame was clear based on the form and method of transmission.

A and the others were indicted on charges of spreading false information via social networking services (SNS) around February 19 last year, ahead of the general election, claiming that lawmaker Joo Cheolhyeon (Yeosu-si Gap) was ranked in the bottom 20% in the evaluation of incumbent Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers.