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South Korea Passes Bill Imposing Heavy Penalties for ‘False Information’

The measure awaits President Lee Jae Myung’s decision following warnings from press and civic groups about chilled criticism.

Overview

  • The National Assembly approved the bill 170–3 with four abstentions after a 24-hour filibuster and an opposition boycott.
  • The law authorizes punitive damages up to five times proven losses, statutory awards up to 50 million won, and regulator fines up to 1 billion won for repeated court-confirmed falsehoods.
  • The rules apply to traditional outlets and large YouTube channels, with Democrats stressing an intent requirement and exemptions for satire and parody.
  • Journalist organizations and civil groups argue the language is vague, risks censorship, and could shift takedown power to private platforms.
  • Enforcement details will be set in forthcoming ordinances, with experts noting immediate impact may fall more on monetized online creators than on legacy media.