Notícias falsas na Coreia do Sul junto com a lei marcial… A verdade no meio da confusão?

Fonte: Comunidade online

As fake news spread alongside the South Korean martial law, what was the reality?

On the 3rd, when South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a state of emergency at 10:30 PM, various pieces of information and rumors exploded across online communities and social media. In particular, the spread of fabricated images, such as those of ‘armored vehicles’ and ‘curfew notices’, led to widespread chaos. Although the situation concluded on the 4th with the lifting of martial law, some fake news continues to create an atmosphere of fear, exacerbating the confusion.

Fonte: Comunidade online

Armored vehicle photos and curfew notices...the reality of the fake news

Immediately after the declaration of martial law, photos of armored vehicles moving through the heart of Seoul, along with a fabricated image of a ‘curfew after 11 PM’, spread rapidly through online communities.

Upon verification, it was revealed that some of the armored vehicle photos were taken in different situations in the past, and the curfew notice was a fabricated image. However, this fake news gained credibility through some media outlets, fueling the confusion.

In particular, rumors of keyword censorship and internet censorship related to martial law circulated on major platforms like Kakao Daum and Naver. However, these claims are false, and the platforms have denied them.

Fonte: Comunidade online

Background and response to the spread of fake news

Immediately after the declaration of martial law, in some communities on Kakao Daum, people formed emergency communication networks using Discord and Telegram to prepare for internet censorship. In certain communities, notices prohibiting the use of politically related keywords were posted, spreading rumors that a ‘surveillance system’ had begun.

On Daum Cafe, there were suspicions that certain keywords were not appearing in the trending rankings, but a Kakao official stated that “trends are selected based on traffic,” refuting claims of censorship under a martial law surveillance system.

Similarly, around the same time, Naver experienced access errors in its news and cafe services, leading to suspicions of censorship. However, Naver explained that the errors were “temporary errors due to a surge in traffic,” denying the censorship allegations.

Martial law and information chaos… implications

This martial law incident demonstrated how quickly fake news can spread in an emergency situation and cause significant confusion among the public. In particular, fabricated information such as photos of armored vehicles and curfew notices went beyond mere rumors and influenced some media reports.

Major platforms like Naver and Kakao actively denied the existence of a “censorship system,” but the spread of fake news already created anxiety among many people. This served as a reminder of the importance of information reliability and verified sources during emergency situations.

What is martial law in South Korea?

Around 10:25 PM on December 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea declared a nationwide state of emergency martial law.

Background and content of the martial law declaration

President Yoon claimed that “anti-state forces” were attempting to overthrow the government, criticizing the opposition Democratic Party for pursuing cuts to the 2025 budget, among other actions, resulting in the “paralysis” of national governance. He defined this as an “attempt to overthrow the liberal democratic system” and stated that he was declaring martial law to “completely eradicate the shameless pro-North Korea anti-state forces and protect the free democratic order.”

About an hour later, Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, appointed by President Yoon as the martial law commander, announced that Martial Law Order No. 1 had been enacted from 11 PM onwards. This order included a ban on all political activities, control of the media, and prohibition of strikes and assemblies.

Reactions and consequences

The declaration of martial law immediately sparked backlash. Politicians from both ruling and opposition parties, as well as citizens, took to the streets to protest. Members of parliament convened an emergency session and passed a resolution demanding the lifting of martial law.

Finally, around 4:30 AM on December 4, President Yoon and his cabinet lifted the martial law. Thus, the martial law lasted only about six hours.

Follow-up actions

Following the lifting of martial law, the opposition party initiated impeachment proceedings against President Yoon, and even members of the ruling party demanded his resignation. Several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of National Defense, resigned, and investigations into the military officers involved in the implementation of martial law commenced.

This incident raised concerns about South Korea’s political stability and democracy, drawing international attention.

Main differences between the ruling and opposition parties

1. Definition:

• Ruling party: The party to which the president belongs; it governs the nation together with the government.
• Opposition party: All parties other than the ruling party; they play the role of checking and monitoring the ruling party.

2. Role:

• Ruling party: Cooperates with the president and the government to formulate and implement national policies.
• Opposition party: Critiques the ruling party’s policies, proposes alternatives, and maintains balance.

3. Responsibility:

• Ruling party: Bears the main responsibility for national governance and faces criticism in case of failure.
• Opposition party: Has the responsibility of monitoring the ruling party and pointing out its mistakes.

4. Power relationship:

• Ruling party: Being on the same side as the president gives them an advantage in policy implementation.
• Opposition party: Checks the ruling party and sometimes opposes government policies.

These differences allow the ruling and opposition parties to maintain a balance and contribute to the development of democracy.