President Lee Jae-myung said that although portal site companies can easily detect comment manipulation, "there are times when I think they might be leaving it unattended for business reasons."
The president stated accordingly during a briefing by the Korean National Police Agency and others at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the afternoon of the 17th.
The president said, "On YouTube, in article comments, and in online communities, blatantly false news is rampant," adding, "Sometimes individuals act on impulse, but it also appears that there are cases where false news is spread in an organized and systematic way."
He went on, "When you look at a particular article on a particular portal, the number of likes on comments sometimes shoots up in an instant, which suggests the use of macros or mechanical means," and asked whether police are investigating.
Yu Jae-seong, the acting commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency, said, "We have fallen short so far, but we will conduct a thorough investigation into the organized spread of false news."
The president also asked whether manipulating the order of news comments on portals, which seems to constitute obstruction of business, is being investigated.
Yu said, "I have not received a report that an investigation into a specific matter has been conducted, but we are keeping it in mind as we investigate," adding, "If evidence emerges, we will actively apply charges such as obstruction of business."
The president said, "Ranking manipulation or using macros to rig public opinion falls under very bad crimes," adding, "We need to check these issues as well." He continued, "Regardless of the truth, taking sides, manipulating, intensifying conflict, and deepening confrontation is truly a problem."