Wi Seongrak Responds to U.S. Concerns Over Information Network Act: "There Have Been Korea-U.S. Exchanges... Dialogue Will Continue"

Seongrak Wi, Director of the National Security Office, is briefing on President Lee Jae-myung's state visit to China at the Blue House press conference room on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

Wi Seongrak, Director of the National Security Office, explained on the 2nd that "there were various exchanges of opinions between South Korea and the United States during the legislative process" regarding the U.S. State Department's concerns about the amendment to the Information and Communications Network Act.

At a press briefing held at the Chunchugwan on the morning of the same day, Director Wi responded to a question about the U.S. expressing a negative stance on the amendment, saying, "Even after the amendment was passed, exchanges of opinions between South Korea and the United States are ongoing," and added, "We will explain our position thoroughly."

The U.S. side believes that Korea's Information and Communications Network Act could serve as a digital regulation. The law, which was passed by the National Assembly on December 24, prohibits and penalizes the dissemination of illegal information and false or manipulated information. In particular, platform operators running large-scale information and communications networks are now obligated to delete illegal or false information, potentially affecting companies such as Google and Meta.

Director Wi further explained, "There have been exchanges of opinions between South Korea and the United States in response to the amendment of the Information and Communications Network Act," and added, "To my knowledge, some of these points have been reflected." However, he also noted, "Of course, from the U.S. perspective, the reflected points may not be sufficient," and stated, "We will continue the dialogue process and strive to explain our position clearly."