"Legislative Measures to Eradicate Fake News"... Ruling Party Launches Intense Offensive on 'Daejangdong Interview'

Emergency Party Meeting Held to Pass Resolution Condemning
Kim Gi-hyeon: "Distributed Nationwide Like Drug Trafficking"
Park Dae-chul: "'President Replacement Conspiracy'"

On the 11th, the People Power Party (PPP) defined the allegations of 'false interviews related to Daejang-dong' involving Kim Man-bae, the major shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu, and Shin Hak-rim, former chairman of the Media Union, as a 'presidential election manipulation gate' and launched an all-out offensive.

On the same day, the PPP held an emergency party members' meeting at the National Assembly and decided to designate the period until the 17th as a 'Presidential Election Manipulation Truth Report to the Public' week. They resolved to conduct a public opinion campaign centered on party members and local party councils. They also plan to hold condemnation rallies by city and provincial party organizations. Additionally, they will push for legislation to strengthen penalties for fake news.

Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader, told reporters immediately after the meeting, "Once the truth is somewhat clarified, we will proceed," adding, "Our party believes that legal and institutional measures must be established to prevent the production and distribution of fake news during elections, which attempts to alter the election ecosystem."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is performing the national ceremony at the members' meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Earlier, Representative Kim Ki-hyun stated in his opening remarks at the meeting, "Kim Man-bae said, 'We are on the same boat as this candidate (then Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung),'" and reiterated suspicions of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, being behind the scenes, saying, "Would Kim Man-bae alone take on the risk of such a bold and violent crime against the nation? It is common sense that there is a backer."

Kim said, "Under no circumstances should freedom of the press be infringed," but raised his voice, saying, "This case is not within the realm of press freedom but falls under the realm of manipulation." He added, "Those who claim it is within press freedom insult the freedom of the press," criticizing, "If power and pseudo-media collude to manufacture drugs disguised as health supplements and distribute them nationwide using delivery networks, it is a crime that must be eradicated."

Floor leader Yoon Jae-ok also emphasized, "We will reveal the truth of the presidential election manipulation gate in detail and hold those responsible strictly accountable so that the forces who profited from manipulation will never dare to try again."

Yoon said, "Election manipulation, which appears to involve professional manipulators, some unfair media, and politicians, is likely to become more sophisticated and technical in the future by utilizing IT technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence) and ChatGPT," adding, "To prevent this, we must thoroughly investigate this matter, punish those responsible, and do our best in follow-up legislative measures."

PPP members gathered at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee chairman's office shouted slogans demanding ▲cooperation from the Democratic Party of Korea for truth investigation ▲measures from portal sites to prevent such incidents ▲truth investigation of related media ▲punishment of those responsible for the prosecution's tacit approval and complicity.

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, and Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader, are performing the national ceremony at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Earlier, at the Supreme Council meeting, Representative Kim said, "This is not a simple fake news issue but a meticulously planned manipulation news issue," and added, "Meticulously planned first-degree murder is a heinous crime distinct from involuntary manslaughter and is punishable by the severest penalty."

He further emphasized, "This incident is a national disgrace that undermines the foundation of liberal democracy and is the most evil crime," calling it a "counter-national crime punishable by death." He added, "There have been cases where the main perpetrators of the March 15 fraudulent election were sentenced to death."

The PPP also held an emergency forum immediately after the meeting on the theme of 'How to prevent election manipulation through fake news.'

At the forum organized by the party's Media Policy Coordination Special Committee, Policy Committee Chairman Park Dae-chul called it a "presidential replacement manipulation," saying, "Irresponsible expos?s have dominated our society for a long time. Now, if you say something, you must take responsibility. Otherwise, you face ruin and disgrace." He added, "Strong accountability must be demanded, and public responsibility for news reporting must be strengthened."

The forum was attended by Kang Myung-il, emergency committee chairman of the MBC union; Heo In-gu, former president of G1 Broadcasting; Lee Jun-an, former chairman of the Minnochoong Media Union; and Kim Dae-ho, professor of Media Communication at Inha University.

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