President Lee Jae-myung on the 11th ordered the Ministry of Justice to review abolishing the "defamation by stating facts" system.
At a Cabinet meeting held that day at the Yongsan presidential office, Lee said, "It seems necessary to amend the Criminal Act to punish hate speech, and if we do so, please review abolishing the defamation-by-stating-facts system at the same time on this occasion."
Lee added, "They call it defamation for saying what is true," and "This is not a matter for criminal punishment but should be handled in civil court."
Under the current Criminal Act, not only false statements but also acts of defamation by stating facts are subject to punishment. In cases of defamation by stating facts, offenders may face "imprisonment or confinement for up to two years, or a fine of up to 5 million won."
Lee also reiterated the need for institutional improvements to root out hate speech against specific countries and races. Lee noted, "In some parts of our society, anachronistic discrimination and hate toward race, origin, and nationality are rampant. As society becomes increasingly polarized, such extreme expressions are continuing to amplify social anxiety."
He went on, "In particular, on social media and elsewhere, hate speech targeting specific groups is being indiscriminately spread, and false information or manipulated information is flooding in," stressing, "We must no longer overlook this." He added, "We should swiftly establish punitive measures against hate speech, fundamentally block the dissemination of fabricated false information, and devote our full efforts to strict punishment."
Lee said, "The distribution of wrongful information that fuels racial hatred or discrimination and distorts or manipulates facts is a crime that must be expelled because it threatens democracy and people's daily lives," and asked the political sphere to work hard on related legislation.
Minister Jeong reported at the Cabinet meeting that the government is reviewing amendments to the Criminal Act to toughen penalties for hate speech against specific countries and races, and amendments to the Assembly and Demonstration Act. In connection with this, in the National Assembly, lawmaker Yang Bu-nam of the Democratic Party of Korea recently introduced a "Criminal Act amendment bill" that would allow punishment of up to five years in prison for insulting a specific country and its people.