Malicious Comments Target Heroic Student Who Helped Stabbing Victim... Police Vow "Strict Punishment"

Speculative Posts and Ridiculing Comments Spread on SNS
Police to Intensively Monitor and Track Perpetrators

The police are taking strong action against excessive malicious comments targeting the male high school student who was seriously injured while helping the female student victim during the stabbing incident in central Gwangju. The Gwangju Police Agency has announced that its cyber investigation team will be closely monitoring and strictly punishing secondary victimization posts, such as speculative slander and personal insults.

On May 12, the Gwangju Police Agency stated that it has begun intensive monitoring and investigation into malicious posts that demean or insult the victims, in connection with the murder case that occurred in Gwangsan-gu on May 5.

Previously, at around 12:10 a.m. on May 5, on a road near a high school in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, a 24-year-old man surnamed Jang wielded a knife, resulting in the death of a 17-year-old female high school student referred to as A, and causing serious injuries to a 17-year-old male high school student referred to as B, who came to help after hearing her screams. Following the incident, some internet users posted speculative articles, the facts of which had not been confirmed, as well as comments ridiculing and criticizing Student B, on major online communities and social networking services (SNS), sparking controversy.

In response, the police are focusing on closely examining secondary victimization posts, with the cybercrime investigation team taking the lead. Given the social gravity of the case, the police plan to apply much stricter standards than those used in ordinary defamation or insult cases and will thoroughly trace and apprehend those responsible.

Under current law, malicious secondary victimization posts in online spaces can be subject to criminal penalties for charges such as defamation, insult, violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, and violation of the Framework Act on Telecommunications.

A police official stated, "We will continue to conduct constant monitoring and will proactively and swiftly crack down on posts that may lead to secondary victimization crimes, responding with strong measures."