Conservative commentator Jee Man-won, accused of spreading false claims online that North Korean troops intervened in the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980, was transferred to prosecutors under arrest.
The Cyber Investigation Unit of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency announced on the 3rd that it had referred Jee to the Suwon District Prosecution Service under arrest on charges of violating the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement, etc. and defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act.
Jee is suspected of posting approximately 60 articles on his personal website, “Jee Man-won’s System Club,” falsely identifying or disparaging citizens who participated in the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in 1980 as North Korean soldiers.
Police launched an investigation in late May after discovering the posts during routine internet monitoring. They arrested Jee on the 27th of last month.
During the police investigation, Jee reportedly denied the allegations, claiming his posts were part of “legitimate research activities.”
Authorities also requested the Korea Media and Communications Standards Commission to delete or block over 1,100 distorted posts about the May 18 Democratization Movement found on Jee’s website.
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