Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
EXCLUSIVE UNESCO raises censorship concerns over Korea’s ‘anti-fake news’ law
The logo of UNESCO is seen during the 39th session of the General Conference at its headquarters in Paris, in this Nov. 4, 2017, file photo. AP-Yonhap
By Jung Min-ho
UN agency urges authorities to align law with international free speech standards
UNESCO has expressed concerns over Korea’s “anti-fake news” law, warning that efforts to fight disinformation must not come at the expense of freedom of the press or encourage censorship.
In a statement recently sent in response to a Korea Times inquiry about the controversial law, UNESCO stressed that journalism needs to be “free, independent and pluralistic” and that “journalists must be able to work without fear of reprisals.”
UNESCO is the primary U.N. agency with a specific mandate to foster freedom of expression, press freedom and the safety of journalists, viewing these causes as crucial for democracy and human rights.
“UNESCO is concerned by the recent trend of growing self-censorship worldwide,” a spokesperson said, noting the sharp increases in media self-censorship in the Asia-Pacific region.
“UNESCO stands ready to work with its member states to ensure that policies aimed at addressing mis- or disinformation are aligned with international standards on freedom of expression, including Article 19 of the human rights declaration,” the spokesperson said.
Article 19 of the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
UNESCO’s intervention comes as the government here prepares to enforce a law that would allow courts to impose steep punitive damages on media companies and major online platforms deemed to have intentionally spread “false” or “manipulated” information for profit or to cause harm.
Press‑freedom advocates argue that the vague wording of the law hands state authorities and a few dominant platforms wide powers to label certain information as “fake” and take it down. The law, passed by the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea without support from the main opposition People Power Party, will come into force in July following the approval of President Lee Jae Myung last month.
UNESCO’s concern is grounded in its 2022-25 World Trends Report on Freedom of Expression and Media Development, which suggests a grim picture for press freedom. Between 2012 and 2024, overall freedom of expression in Asia and the Pacific fell by 6.67 percent, while media self‑censorship surged by nearly 60 percent. For UNESCO, Korea’s “anti-fake news” law lands in the middle of this downturn, raising fears that it could accelerate the trend.
Critics worry that the law could have far‑reaching implications for coverage of sensitive issues. For example, they ask whether a journalist who interviews parents who believe their child was harmed by a vaccine could be accused of undermining public health and causing damage to the vaccine maker ― and whether such reporting would be allowed to remain on major platforms.
Those concerns have been echoed overseas. After the enactment of the law, the U.S. State Department expressed “significant concerns,” saying it “negatively impacts the business of U.S.-based online platforms and undermines free expression.”
Meanwhile, ruling party lawmakers and the government have defended the law as a necessary response to conspiracy theories and orchestrated smear campaigns that spread rapidly on digital platforms. They argue it targets willful, profit‑driven fabrications and is not intended to punish good‑faith reporting.
Yet critics say many cases will likely end up in court for legal clarity, which they fear will chill critical journalism as media companies may opt for caution rather than risk severe financial penalties.