Crisis of Democracy from 'Fake News'... "A Public Fact-Checking Organization Is Needed" [SNS Politics Overrun by Fakes ③]

Minju Police Station Monitors False and Distorted Reports
People Power Party Criticizes: "Targeting Unfavorable Information"
Balancing 'Crackdown' and 'Freedom of Expression' Remains a Challenge

Editor's NoteFake news and smear campaigns are an inevitable part of every election season. Candidates' words and actions are distorted and repackaged into short videos, and unverified information is spread under the guise of 'facts.' Social networking services (SNS) have shifted from being channels for information delivery to tools of agitation, and voters are swept up in public opinion as both consumers and disseminators. As false information threatens democracy, elections are turning from a 'stage for politics' into a 'battleground of public opinion.' This has led to an extreme fragmentation of the public sphere and an increasing risk that even the minimum core information shared by the public may disappear. In this three-part series, we examine the problems and realities of political warfare on SNS and seek possible solutions.

With the June 3 presidential election approaching, the spread of fake news online has emerged as a serious issue threatening the fairness of the election and public trust. Both the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have formed dedicated teams to respond to false information, aiming to protect their political interests and reputations, as well as to ensure the fairness of the election. However, the political response is entangled with issues such as individual freedoms, excessive censorship, and the limitations of legal sanctions.

The Democratic Party is actively responding by establishing the 'Minju Police Station' to block fake news and false information circulating on SNS and online platforms ahead of the presidential election. The Minju Police Station was launched after former President Yoon Suk Yeol's 12·3 Martial Law last year. It operates by monitoring reports from citizens regarding false information and fake news, checking for false or distorted reports and malicious smear content. Recently, the party also launched the 'Minju Fire Station.' This new initiative aims not only to collect reports but also to proactively identify and block negative public opinion by directly tracking down fake news and false content.

The People Power Party, centering on the 'Gukmin Siren Center,' is focusing on responding to the Democratic Party's monitoring with legal and administrative measures. Lee Sanghwi, head of the Gukmin Siren Center, stated, "The Democratic Party is mobilizing illegal and anti-democratic tools to identify and remove information unfavorable to themselves," and added, "We will expand and strengthen the center's functions to protect the freedom of the people and the freedom of the press." The party pointed out that while false information that misleads voters should be controlled, using legal sanctions and excessive censorship as tools of power could infringe on freedom of expression.

On the 12th, when the official campaign for the 21st presidential election began, banners of Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party candidate, and Kim Moon Soo, the People Power Party candidate, were hung near Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. 2025.5.12. Photo by Kang Jin Hyung

Although both parties are waging war against fake news in their own ways, they fundamentally face the dilemma of balancing regulation and freedom of expression. The Constitutional Court has clearly pointed out that excessive restrictions on political expression can distort or block the delivery of election information, emphasizing that limitations should be imposed only within the scope necessary to achieve their purpose. In other words, the disclosure of facts necessary for candidate verification and policy evaluation must be guaranteed, while the dissemination of false information and defamation should be strictly regulated. However, political controversy and critical opinions should be protected. (Constitutional Court, June 27, 2024, Decision 2023Hun-Ba78, Full Bench. Constitutional Court review of Article 250, Paragraph 2 of the Public Official Election Act, etc.)

Experts have proposed legal and institutional improvements to balance fake news and freedom of expression, such as introducing a 'punitive damages system' and establishing a 'public fact-checking organization.' Sung Dongkyu, professor at Chung-Ang University's School of Media and Communication, said, "Although the political sphere claims to be creating alternatives to the production of fake news, there are aspects of mutual abuse. It is important to recognize that such approaches can ultimately backfire," adding, "It is necessary to introduce a punitive damages system for information-related issues."

Kang Jaewon, professor at Dongguk University's Department of Media and Communication, suggested, "Civil organizations independent from political and commercial interests should take the lead in establishing a 'public fact-checking organization' and ensure its operation through public support." Professor Kang emphasized, "The goal of fake news, that is, false information, is to undermine the ability of recipients to make clear choices or judgments about verifiable facts," and added, "There may be various ways to prevent this, but the most effective method is to verify facts at a trustworthy institution and present the truth."