▲ Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency building
The original author who fabricated a widely circulated piece of "fake news"—which claimed the government would regulate dollar exchanges or force the sale of U.S. dollars in response to a Middle East-triggered economic crisis—has been caught by the police.
The Cyber Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced today (October 7) that it is investigating two individuals without detention, including a man in his 30s surnamed A who works as a freelance cryptocurrency investment promoter, on charges including violations of the Framework Act on Telecommunications.
This case began following a criminal complaint filed in April by former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol.
At the time, as an unfounded rumor spread online claiming that "the government would issue an 'emergency financial and economic order' to force the sale of dollars," former Deputy Prime Minister Koo filed a complaint with the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, submitting screenshots of 14 related posts while calling them "clear fake news."
A, who was apprehended in this latest sweep by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency after initiating investigations and tracking down distributors, is accused of initially creating and spreading a specific false post containing details about "dollar exchange regulations" on his social media in March and April.
It was determined that A was not the primary source of the fake news reported in the complaint by former Deputy Prime Minister Koo.
According to the investigation, A, who earns profits by promoting investment products such as cryptocurrencies, wrote the provocative false post to draw people to his social media channels.
During police questioning, A admitted to writing the post, stating, "I wrote it for the purpose of sharing information after hearing rumors circulating around."
The other individual booked alongside A was confirmed to be an ordinary office worker who merely distributed the post.
With these additions, the total number of suspects caught by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency in connection with this fake news incident has risen to 11, including A and the other newly booked individual.
Previously, the police forwarded five distributors to the prosecution without detention, decided not to forward three others, and transferred one to the military police.
Contrary to some concerns, none of the apprehended individuals were employees of financial institutions or public officials from government ministries.
The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency plans to finalize its investigation into the two suspects, including A, and decide whether to send them to the prosecution, thereby concluding the fake news investigation that has lasted for nearly half a year.
A police official stated, "We will continue to respond sternly by actively investigating major false and fabricated information spreading online."
(Photo provided by Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, Yonhap News)
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