Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said on the 2nd that "the claim that the government will force the sale of dollars is a clear fake news item that has never been discussed," adding, "We will respond strictly, including asking police to investigate."

Koo Yun-cheol, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy and Finance, gives opening remarks at the Emergency Economic Ministers' Meeting and the Task Force meeting on special management of household prices at Government Complex Seoul on Sejong-daero, Seoul, in the afternoon on the 26th last month. /Courtesy of News1

Deputy Prime Minister Koo said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that "regarding mentions of an 'emergency fiscal and economic order' to respond to the prolonged Middle East war, the claim has been spread in some online cafes and blogs."

Some YouTube channels and others posted videos claiming that if the exchange rate keeps rising, the government could issue an administrative order forcing individual investors to sell the dollars they hold so the government can stockpile dollars. They cited President Lee Jae-myung's remark on the 31st that "in an emergency, we could use the emergency fiscal and economic order set out in the Constitution."

Deputy Prime Minister Koo said, "The spread of baseless fake news in an extraordinary crisis can cause market instability and undermine confidence in policy, so particular caution is needed."

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