President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday condemned “rampant” racist and xenophobic behavior in Korea, calling for swift legal measures to punish hate speech and false information that he said are deepening social divisions.
“Discrimination and hate based on race or national origin are rampant in some parts of our society,” Lee said at a Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul. “As society becomes more polarized, extreme expressions are fueling instability.”
He added that he had raised the issue several times before but felt the need to emphasize it again.
He warned that online platforms have become hotbeds of harmful rhetoric and false information. “Especially on social media, expressions targeting specific groups are being circulated indiscriminately, and false or manipulated information is spreading. We can no longer overlook this,” he said.
Lee called such acts “clear criminal behavior that goes beyond freedom of expression,” and instructed the government to quickly introduce punishment mechanisms for hate speech and to take strong action against those who spread false or fabricated information.
“Racial hatred, discrimination and the distortion or manipulation of facts are acts that threaten democracy and people’s daily lives, and must be rooted out as crimes,” Lee said, urging politicians to join efforts to eradicate the problem.
989989272 on
If only Japan could even feign this. Even before the current tourism wave I was denied entry to certain businesses for being a foreigner, legally.
3 Comments
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday condemned “rampant” racist and xenophobic behavior in Korea, calling for swift legal measures to punish hate speech and false information that he said are deepening social divisions.
“Discrimination and hate based on race or national origin are rampant in some parts of our society,” Lee said at a Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul. “As society becomes more polarized, extreme expressions are fueling instability.”
He added that he had raised the issue several times before but felt the need to emphasize it again.
He warned that online platforms have become hotbeds of harmful rhetoric and false information. “Especially on social media, expressions targeting specific groups are being circulated indiscriminately, and false or manipulated information is spreading. We can no longer overlook this,” he said.
Lee called such acts “clear criminal behavior that goes beyond freedom of expression,” and instructed the government to quickly introduce punishment mechanisms for hate speech and to take strong action against those who spread false or fabricated information.
“Racial hatred, discrimination and the distortion or manipulation of facts are acts that threaten democracy and people’s daily lives, and must be rooted out as crimes,” Lee said, urging politicians to join efforts to eradicate the problem.
If only Japan could even feign this. Even before the current tourism wave I was denied entry to certain businesses for being a foreigner, legally.
Woke/s