College Student Arrested for False Rumor
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Police have arrested a 23-year-old student of Chosun University in Gwangju, for violating electronic communication laws by spreading rumors online that a female college student was killed by riot police.
The student, identified only as Kim, spread rumors that police killed a female student and cut off one of her fingers, the police said.
Kim was also suspected of collecting donations worth 20 million won ($20,000) from some 1,000 netizens after claiming he would advertise her death in newspapers.
Police are questioning Kim as to why he spread the rumors and what he used the collected money for.
Students and civic groups in South Jeolla Province are protesting the arrest.