An amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection that imposes punitive damages of up to five times on news outlets or YouTubers that distributed false or fabricated information passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th.
The National Assembly held a plenary session that day and, in a vote on the amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, passed the bill with 170 in favor, three against, and four abstentions out of 177 members present.
The law defines illegal information and false or fabricated information and bans the distribution of such information on information and communications networks. It also includes a punitive damages provision that holds media outlets and YouTubers liable for up to five times the amount of damages if they spread illegal, false, or fabricated information for the purpose of securing undue profit and cause harm to others. For "damages that are difficult to prove," it also allows for imposing compensation of up to 50 million won.
The Democratic Party of Korea, which pushed the bill, said it was aimed at blocking the spread of false or fabricated information and driving out fake news. But the People Power Party opposed it, calling the law a "muzzle law" and arguing it seriously infringes on freedom of expression. After the bill was placed on the agenda the previous day, a 24-hour filibuster was held, but it ultimately passed under the leadership of the Democratic Party.
With the amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection passing the National Assembly, the filibuster standoff that had continued since the 22nd came to a close for now.