Pre-University Student Arrested for Spreading Fake News About Third Confirmed Case of Novel Coronavirus

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A prospective university student from Busan was arrested by the police for spreading false information online about the movement routes of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

On the 8th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul announced that they had booked A (19), a prospective university student residing in Busan, without detention on charges of obstruction of business for posting false information containing the names of specific businesses in Gangnam-gu, claiming it was the movement route of the third confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, on an online community.

On the 29th of last month, A posted under the title "Urgent Information" that the third confirmed case had visited, specifying the names of a hotel, a plastic surgery clinic, and a convenience store in Gangnam-gu, and falsely claimed that three additional infections occurred at the hotel.

It was determined that A was not the original source of the false information. However, the police booked him due to social confusion and damages caused by the false information about the novel coronavirus. A police official said, "The Gangnam District Office requested an investigation, and the businesses that suffered damages from the false information also wanted punishment, so he was booked."

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, Hotel A, which was included in the false information about the third confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, submitted a complaint to the Gangnam Police Station requesting punishment for the person who spread the false information. It was also confirmed that Plastic Surgery Clinic B, located near Sinsa Station in Gangnam, submitted a similar complaint to the investigative authorities. ▶ Refer to our January 30 report “Wuhan Pneumonia Confirmed Case Visit?” Fake News Victim Hotel and Plastic Surgery Clinic Submit Complaints

As specific businesses suffered damages due to the fake news, the Gangnam District Office also requested the police to investigate and punish the original creator and spreader of the false information on the 30th of last month.

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