Acting Police Commissioner: "Fake News Distributors Will Be Tracked Down and Punished"

Video Conference Held by Police Leadership Ahead of June Local Elections

Yu Jaesung, Acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency, has called for a strict response to "fake news."

On April 14, Acting Commissioner Yu held a nationwide video conference with police leadership, stressing the importance of countering false and manipulated information, including fake news that exploits the ongoing Middle East war. During the meeting, fake news was defined as a "serious crime," and measures to strengthen crackdowns and investigations were discussed. With 50 days left until the June local elections, instructions were given to thoroughly track down and punish the original distributors of such false and manipulated information.

Yu Jaesung, Acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

To ensure a systematic response, the police plan to operate cyber analysis teams at four regional offices: the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency, and Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. The strategy is to promptly request the deletion and blocking of fake news before it spreads indiscriminately and to immediately refer related criminal information for investigation, implementing a zero-tolerance approach.

The police also intend to strengthen crackdowns and intelligence gathering on the five major election crimes that seriously undermine electoral fairness. These five crimes include slanderous propaganda, bribery, election interference by public officials, illegal mobilization of organizations, and election-related violence. In line with key election dates such as candidate registration on May 14, a unified election security situation room will be opened on May 20 and operated 24 hours a day, with the aim of ensuring the local elections proceed in an orderly manner.

In particular, the cybercrime investigation units at provincial agencies, equipped with specialized investigative capabilities, will take the lead in directly investigating election crimes involving the distribution of false information related to the elections or the use of fake videos (deepfakes), mobilizing all available resources for a comprehensive response.

Acting Commissioner Yu emphasized, "As the criminal justice system continues to change, the role of the police has become more critical than ever. We must thoroughly track down and punish the original distributors to ensure that false information cannot take root in our society."

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