Following Fukushima, now Seoicho... Ruling Party to Take Strong Measures Against 'Involvement' Rumors

Broadcaster Kim Eo-jun Reported for Spreading False Information
Active Response to Successive Rumors Including Yangpyeong and Fukushima
Representative Kim Ki-hyun: "Operating a System to Hold Accountability Until the End"

The People Power Party has decided to actively respond to the ongoing wave of conspiracy theories, from the mad cow disease incident to the Fukushima contaminated water issue. They immediately filed a complaint against broadcaster Kim Eo-jun, who raised allegations of involvement by a People Power Party lawmaker in the case of an elementary school teacher's extreme choice in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and are conducting a comprehensive review of fake news centered around the Media Legal Team.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, wrote on Facebook on the morning of the 22nd, "Kim Eo-jun, the 'lie factory' who spews fake news every time he opens his mouth, shamelessly spread the falsehood on his broadcast that a three-term People Power Party lawmaker was the cause of the elementary school teacher's extreme choice. This fake news is still posted without correction," adding, "I hereby declare war on fake news."

Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 6th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Kim also emphasized, "I and our People Power Party will restore an abnormal society scarred by fake news and rumors to normal. We will surely bring Kim Eo-jun, who repeatedly incites the public with lies, to the stern judgment of the law."

According to the People Power Party Media Legal Team, on the 20th, Kim said on his YouTube show 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' regarding the elementary school teacher's extreme choice case, "It is known that a current politician is involved in the matter," "I understand it is a three-term member of the People Power Party, but there has been no coverage at all," and "The real name of the involved lawmaker will soon be revealed, and I believe it will cause a huge stir." The People Power Party filed a complaint against Kim on the same day for defamation by spreading false information.

Earlier, an elementary school homeroom teacher, Mr. A, in Seocho-gu, Seoul, was found dead inside the school on the morning of the 18th. On internet communities, rumors spread that the new teacher Mr. A was in charge of school violence duties and was troubled by parental complaints, along with a rumor that the father of a parent who filed severe complaints was a "three-term People Power Party lawmaker residing in Seocho-gu."

The lawmaker Han Ki-ho, who was identified as the "three-term lawmaker," issued a statement the previous day, clearly denying the allegations and stating, "My family members do not attend the school in question." On the same day, a woman who was the original spreader of the rumor visited Han seeking leniency, but Han reportedly said, "My political life has been dealt a fatal blow, and forgiveness is not something that can be granted just because someone comes personally asking for it."

Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader, also mentioned the case in his first remarks at the morning floor strategy meeting, saying, "When a famous YouTuber specified an unconfirmed online rumor as a three-term People Power Party lawmaker, the controversy spread uncontrollably," and criticized, "Spreading fake news actually hinders the efforts of the majority of teachers who are struggling with infringements on their authority."

"From the Past, Democratic Party's Conspiracy Theories and Fake News Headquarters"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Both Kim and Yoon referred to the harms of fake news, explaining that conspiracy theories have been propagated mainly by the Democratic Party not only in this case but also in the past.

Kim wrote on Facebook, "The rumors that a Chanel luxury bag was hidden in the eco bag of First Lady Kim Geon-hee during a presidential overseas trip, the baseless allegations of preferential treatment on the Yangpyeong highway, and the conspiracy theories about Fukushima contaminated water such as 'IAEA is not a UN agency,' 'the discharged contaminated water is full of radioactivity,' and 'our country only trusts the IAEA without verification' all originated from the Democratic Party." He added, "For the Democratic Party, the headquarters of fake news, truth or facts do not matter. They are people who do not hesitate to tell lies that will be exposed if it means shaking the Yoon Suk-yeol government or causing even a slight blemish."

Yoon criticized, "Even beyond this case, I cannot help but worry about the situation where political conspiracy theories dominate South Korea. From mad cow disease and THAAD incidents to the Fukushima contaminated water issue, biased YouTube channels, pseudo-media, and political parties have formed a triangular alliance to engage in irresponsible inflammatory politics."

He targeted the Democratic Party, saying, "Unknown left-wing forces fabricate lies on various SNS platforms, certain partisan media report them, and the opposition party uses them to attack the government and ruling party, which the media then pick up again, creating an endless cycle of inflammatory offensives."

The People Power Party has also rebutted allegations related to the Seoul-Yangpyeong highway route change and suspicions involving the family of First Lady Kim Geon-hee as 'fake news.' The ruling party's fake news and conspiracy theory framing against the opposition party is expected to intensify. After volunteering for flood recovery in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, Kim told reporters, "We will continue to root out such fake news and hold those responsible accountable to the end by operating a system," adding, "The Media Legal Team was recently formed and will be dedicated to this work."

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