South Korea Disinformation Profile

South Korea Media Environment:

Newspapers readership is high and TV is highly influential. 99% of households have access to the internet in South Korea. South Korea is ranked 42 out of 180 in the 2020 World Press Freedom Index.

Within South Korea some internet forums are required to have users sign in using their real name. These forums are viewed as trustworthy for this reason however purveyors of disinformation have used bots, paid content generators and volunteers on the forums to manipulate public opinion.

In addition to Facebook and Youtube users in South Korea regularly use a messaging service called KaoKao talk which some regard as particularly susceptible to disinformation.

Notable disinformation incidents:

Druking Bot Scandal:

An aide to President Moon was accused using software to create millions likes and comments on stories related to Moon.

The DNI Scandal:

During the 2012 presidential election campaign the former Director of National Intelligence Services, Won Sei-Hoon used psychological warfare units to support president Park online and post comments critical of Mr. Moon who was running at the time.

2017 Presidential Election:

Disinformation mobilized supporters on social networks for multiple political parties in the 2017 presidential election.

COVID-19 Disinformation:

Far right influencers spread disinformation that the government was blocking people from getting tested until after the election and the President Moon Jae-in had tested positive for COVID-19 Far Right influencers also alleged that the government was producing a million masks a day which were sent to North Korea. Much of the disinformation stemmed from what little information came out of North Korea about how they were dealing with COVID-19.