hankyoreh

Yeouido

The national prosecution and police say they are going to criminally prosecute people involved in spreading so-called “mad cow horror stories” (gwangubyeong goedam) on the Internet, in addition to prosecuting the organizers of candlelight protests against imports of American beef.

Top ranking officials at the Supreme Prosecutor General’s Office held an unscheduled meeting on May 6 to discuss ways to prosecute “horror stories (goedam) on the Internet.”

“The number of horror stories on the Internet is reaching serious proportions and we can’t just sit around and do nothing,” said one prosecutor. “We’re going to look at what’s going on and see if there are any issues.”

A high-ranking police official, said the police see it as a “serious problem” that there is “inaccurate information about American beef and criticism of government policy that is not factual overflowing” on the Internet.

“We are examining whether to seek out whoever this inaccurate information originated with and prosecute him,” said the police official.

Laws that could possibly put to use in criminal prosecution include information and communications laws, and laws against defamation and “obstruction of business” (eommu banghae joe).

Also on May 6, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology issued a statement saying that “middle and high school students have been taking the lead in participating in candlelight protests” opposing beef imports.

“There are rumors about schools being closed circulating on the Internet and through phone text messages,” the statement said. The ministry plans to do what it can to prevent participation by middle and high school students in the candlelight protests.

On the same day, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo told a meeting on government-ruling party cooperation held at the National Assembly that it is “unfortunate that safety concerns that have no real basis have surfaced in some quarters and are being spread as fact and used for a political offensive.

“We guarantee healthy criticism and productive debate, but we will use the law to deal firmly with those spreading false facts and producing social unrest with illegal protests,” said Han.

In response, Jang Yeo-gyeong, of the Jinbo (“Progressive”) Network, said the government should take a different course of action.

“If they think inaccurate information is flowing around the Internet, all the government needs to do is convey accurate information in response,” she said. “If the government sends in law enforcement immediately upon seeing hot, boiling opinion that it doesn’t like, the character of the Internet is such that not only will they not solve their problem, they will only make turn public opinion against the issue even more.”

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]