Police investigate fake presidential statement about overseas stock tax hike

The official emblem of the National Office of Investigation is visible on the side of a booth seating area inside the agency / Korea Times file

Police have launched a preliminary investigation after a fake statement, falsely attributed to President Lee Jae Myung, circulated online, claiming the government would raise capital gains taxes on overseas stock investments and introduce a new holding tax.

The National Office of Investigation said Thursday that a message titled “Overseas stock capital gains tax increase and introduction of holding tax” is spreading online and on social media as if it were an official presidential statement.

The agency stated that the post constitutes impersonation of the president and the dissemination of false information. It warned that such acts “can cause serious confusion about government policy and amount to a grave criminal offense.”

The agency instructed the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s cybercrime unit to launch a preliminary investigation. Police said they will trace how the post was created and shared, and that anyone found to have been responsible will face strict penalties under relevant laws.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.