"Strict action against spreading false information related to Wuhan pneumonia"... Orders issued to frontline police stations

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has established a policy to strictly respond to acts of creating and distributing false information related to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) that incite distrust and anxiety.

On the 30th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office issued instructions to local prosecution offices to strictly punish offenders who create or distribute false information related to the novel coronavirus situation.

This follows the Ministry of Justice's request for swift and thorough investigations into fake news. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "There have been numerous cases of creating and distributing rumors and fake news, causing confusion in nationwide quarantine efforts and increasing public anxiety."

The prosecution announced that it will apply charges such as defamation, obstruction of business, and obstruction of official duties against offenders who distribute false information, including ▲posting false information related to disease spread such as confirmed patients' infection and movement routes, and outbreak locations ▲distributing false information and leaking personal information about specific individuals' infection and health status ▲making false reports to government offices.

In particular, the prosecution plans to consider detention and investigation for offenders who distribute false information in an organized and malicious manner. The prosecution said, "By promptly providing accurate information about the investigation results of false information distributors, we will block the spread of suspicions and the public's distrust and anxiety."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.