Young Koreans take on global misinformation found online

A promotional poster for the Global Korea Ambassadors / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Nearly 170 young people from around the world are joining a new digital campaign led by the Korean government and the Volunteer Agency Network of Korea (VANK) to challenge misinformation about Korea circulating across global media and online platforms.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday it held a launch ceremony for the second group of Global Korea Ambassadors at 10 a.m. on the metaverse platform ZEP.

The initiative, organized jointly with VANK, a civic organization known for its online public diplomacy campaigns, selected 169 Korean and international youths to participate in efforts aimed at promoting accurate information about Korean history and culture.

Participants, all aged 16 or older, will spend about a month identifying and correcting misleading or inaccurate depictions of Korea found in foreign media outlets, digital platforms and online content, according to the ministry.

The volunteers will also submit policy suggestions and promotional ideas intended to improve how Korea is introduced overseas.

The program follows the first Global Korea Ambassadors campaign, which recruited 201 youths from Korea and abroad between December 2024 and January 2025.

Government officials said the latest initiative reflects growing concern over the speed at which misinformation spreads across increasingly fragmented media environments.

Lee Eun-bok, director general for overseas public relations policy at the ministry, said false or distorted information about Korea has become more common as global media channels diversify.

Lee said the ministry would continue cooperating with private organizations such as VANK to correct inaccuracies and strengthen Korea’s international image.

VANK has long positioned itself at the forefront of online campaigns related to Korean history, territorial issues and cultural representation.

The organization has frequently mobilized students and young volunteers to identify errors in textbooks, websites and international publications that it says misrepresent Korea.

Friday’s launch ceremony also included a presentation outlining the ambassadors’ mission and long-term vision for digital public diplomacy.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.