"To Attract Attention": Man Referred to Police for Defaming Comfort Women Online

A man in his 20s, identified as A, has been referred to the prosecution without detention on charges of writing and distributing false posts targeting victims of the Japanese military's sexual slavery, commonly known as comfort women, across multiple internet communities.

Following the establishment of the Act on the Protection of Victims of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery (Comfort Women Victims Protection Act) this year, offenders can face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.

A is accused of writing and distributing posts 211 times in July on online communities such as DC Inside and Ilbe Storage, disparaging comfort women victims and distorting historical facts regarding their suffering.

Police reportedly initiated the investigation after monitoring related online activity. Investigations revealed that A committed the acts simply to attract attention, without any specific motive.

Police stated that A's case is the first arrest since the new penal provision punishing the dissemination of false information under the Comfort Women Victims Protection Act went into effect on June 11 of this year.

Under the revised Comfort Women Victims Protection Act, anyone who distorts victim facts or spreads false information with the intent to defame comfort women victims can be sentenced to up to five years in prison or fined up to 50 million won.

Compared to the crime of defamation by defaming false facts under the Criminal Act, the upper limit for fines is five times higher.

Police emphasized, "Spreading false information regarding the Japanese military comfort women victims not only insults and defames the victims and their bereaved families, but also spreads distorted historical awareness and causes social confusion."

They added, "We will continue to strictly investigate acts that produce and spread malicious and clear falsehoods that go beyond the boundaries of freedom of expression."

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Lee Eui-sun | Graphics by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.