Opposition Party Exclusive: "KakaoTalk 'Insurrection Incitement' Also Reported" Statement Draws Ruling Party's "Public Intimidation Charge" Response

On the 11th, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a heated debate regarding Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi's statement that "if fake news related to inciting rebellion is spread via KakaoTalk, it will be reported for the crime of inciting rebellion."

Joo Jin-woo, Chairman of the Legal Advisory Committee of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News

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The People Power Party announced it would take legal action, calling Jeon’s remarks "intimidation of the public." Joo Jin-woo, the party’s legal advisory committee chairman, stated in a press release that "Jeon’s remarks constitute the crimes of coercion, threats, and defamation due to the dissemination of false information against ordinary citizens," and added, "We will file a criminal complaint against Jeon early next week."

Joo also pointed out, "Since martial law has already been lifted, the crime of rebellion cannot be established, and therefore, the crime of inciting rebellion cannot be established either," adding, "Trying to silence citizens critical of the Democratic Party by linking them to 'incitement and propaganda of rebellion' is an extremely anti-democratic act that directly violates the constitutional principle prohibiting censorship."

Park Soo-min, the party’s floor spokesperson, urged in a commentary, "After suing a YouTuber for the crime of propaganda of rebellion, now they seem ready to censor KakaoTalk messages and even prosecute citizens," and appealed, "Please stop intimidating the citizens." Additionally, lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun called it "a communist-style idea to control the thoughts of all citizens," while lawmaker Na Kyung-won described it as the "terrifying KakaoTalk martial law" of the Democratic Party. Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong also criticized the move on Facebook, questioning, "Is this really South Korea?"

Earlier, Jeon Yong-gi, co-chairman of the Democratic Party’s National Communication Committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly the previous day, stating, "Spreading fake news through communities or KakaoTalk is punishable as propaganda of rebellion," and added, "Even ordinary citizens will be firmly reported for inciting rebellion or spreading fake news."

In response to the ruling party’s criticism of "KakaoTalk censorship," Jeon rebutted on Facebook, saying, "Censorship is something that could only have been imagined in a dictatorship that President Yoon Seok-yeol tried to create through martial law while watching far-right YouTube channels," and emphasized, "No one should spread fake news inciting rebellion, whether on KakaoTalk or SNS." He further added, "I don’t know if an 'online Baekgoltan' has been born, but those committing the crime of propaganda of rebellion must clearly recognize that their claims are not freedom of expression but can be criminal acts."

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