South Korea is implementing a revised Information and Communications Network Act to regulate illegal, false-manipulated information, and hate speech online [1].
The law aims to protect the public from the damage caused by fake news and prevent the spread of harmful content across digital platforms [1]. By targeting high-reach and profit-driven accounts, the government intends to create a financial deterrent against the intentional distribution of misinformation [1].
Under the new provisions, individuals or entities who post illegal, false-manipulated information that has been confirmed by a court ruling two or more times face a maximum fine of 1 billion KRW [1]. The legislation specifically targets "profit-oriented information disseminators." This classification applies to those who have posted three or more items in the prior three months that generated sponsorship or advertising revenue [1].
Enhanced damages are also available for victims of online misinformation. The law allows for aggravated damages of up to five times the actual loss [1]. These higher multipliers apply to disseminators who maintain a significant digital footprint, specifically those with 100,000 subscribers or an average of 100,000 views per month [1].
"Provisions to regulate the online distribution of not only illegal information but also false-manipulated information and hate speech have been added," Reporter Kim Tae-min said [1].
The legislation takes effect on July 7, 2024 [1]. The measure represents a shift toward stricter accountability for digital content creators who monetize their reach through the spread of unverified or harmful claims [1].
“Maximum fine of 1 billion KRW for repeat false-manipulated posts”
This legislative shift signals South Korea's move toward a 'punitive' model of digital governance, where the financial risk of spreading misinformation is scaled to the size of the creator's audience and their ability to profit from it. By linking fines and damages to subscriber counts and ad revenue, the state is treating influential social media figures more like traditional media outlets subject to legal liability.
