Police launched a preliminary investigation after an online post spread claiming the government had sent an official letter to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to nullify existing bonus negotiations in order to implement a semiconductor excess profit-sharing scheme.
The Korean National Police Agency National Office of Investigation (NOI) said on the 3rd, "Recently, false information such as the 'bonus nullification official letter rumor' has been circulating online," and "We have begun a pre-booking investigation into seven accounts that posted the content on suspicion of obstruction of business, among other charges."
Police said they will respond strictly with a zero-tolerance policy to the dissemination of major false or manipulated information spreading online.
Earlier, the government refuted the posts circulating online as "fake news." The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) said, "The related post is completely unfounded," adding it was "contrary to the facts." It added, "If such incorrect posts are spread maliciously, we will respond strongly through reports to investigative agencies, among other measures."
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources also said, "The post claiming the government sent an official letter to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix is completely untrue," adding, "If it is spread maliciously, we plan to respond firmly through reports to investigative agencies, among other measures."