Kim Du-kwan: "Media Arbitration Act Imposes Punitive Damages on 'Fake News'... A Meaningful First Step"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Democratic Party presidential candidate Kim Du-kwan evaluated the amendment to the Media Arbitration Act, which passed the standing committee subcommittee on the 27th, as "a meaningful first step in imposing punitive damages obligations for 'fake news.'"

Kim Du-kwan, a presidential primary candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a policy keynote speech at the 'One Team' agreement ceremony for the 20th presidential election held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 29th, Representative Kim said this in a post titled "Welcoming the Start of the Punitive Damages System" on Facebook.

Kim recalled, "When I first entered politics as the mayor of Namhae County in 1995, I ordered the closure of the press room called 'Gijagurakbu,' which was a stronghold of local vested interests. It was the first time in the history of the Republic of Korea." He added, "The fight against the media vested interests that started from there left me with considerable trials but became an unstoppable spirit of the times."

He criticized, "Some chaebol-owned media behave like interest groups that only pursue the owner's interests," and said, "Above all, it is true that the spirit of the pen was forgotten, and intoxicated only by that power, they even committed serious criminal acts such as personality destruction." He explained, "In this process, the truth was distorted or exaggerated, and even nonexistent facts were reported under the name of 'exclusive' borrowing the name of news. The 'Nondureong Watch' that insulted President Roh Moo-hyun is a representative case."

Kim pointed out, "The current reality is too miserable to rely solely on the media's self-purification function." He emphasized, "The introduction of the punitive damages system is necessary for the media to return to responsible journalism."

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