People Power Party's Kim Young-sik Proposes Bill for Strict Punishment of 'Online Murder Threats'

Imprisonment up to 5 Years or Fine up to 50 Million Won

Kim Young-sik, a member of the People Power Party representing Gumi-si Eul, Gyeongbuk, proposed the "Partial Amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection" on the 16th to punish those who post murder threat messages online.

Recently, following the stabbing incidents at Sillim Station in Seoul and Seohyeon Station in Bundang, messages threatening murder or injury have rapidly spread through SNS and other platforms, increasing public anxiety.

Kim Young-sik, member of the People Power Party.

According to statistics from the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, from the 21st of last month, when the Sillim-dong incident occurred, until the 14th of this month, a total of 354 cases related to indiscriminate online posts threatening heinous crimes were reported, and 149 suspects were apprehended.

However, under current law, posting murder threat messages is prosecuted under charges such as attempted murder or intimidation, but there is no provision to punish the act of public intimidation itself (such as murder threat messages). Therefore, if the target or plan of the crime is not specified, the punishment is limited to fines. Accordingly, a bill has been prepared to impose imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won on those who distribute public intimidation acts (such as murder threat messages) with the intent to threaten the public through information and communications networks.

Kim Young-sik of the People Power Party stated, "Indiscriminate murder threat messages are increasing public anxiety and causing waste of policing resources, resulting in serious social side effects," and added, "With this amendment, online public intimidation acts (such as murder threat messages) will be defined as serious criminal acts, creating an environment where strict punishment is possible."

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