The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
  • Economic Essay Contest
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Sun, January 24, 2021 | 08:50
Politics
Police uncover more online comment manipulation
Posted : 2018-05-07 16:28
Updated : 2018-05-07 19:33
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Kang Seung-woo

Police said Monday they have found additional opinion-rigging comments by an influential blogger and his accomplices on news articles critical of the incumbent government.

"They manipulated about 20,000 comments on 675 news articles, using 2,290 different IDs from Jan. 17 to 18," the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a press statement.

It added that about 2.1 million clicks were made with macro software. The automated program enables a user to input multiple comments or likes for specific comments on news articles.

The blogger, surnamed Kim, and his partners are currently indicted over allegations that they artificially increased the number of clicks on "agree" for comments on a news article carried by the nation's largest portal website Naver in January. The controversial article was about President Moon Jae-in's decision to form a joint Korean ice hockey team for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February.

According to police, they were suspected of using 614 IDs to ramp up the number of clicks at the time.

The police plan to notify prosecutors of the newly found evidence so they can add them to their ongoing hearings.

Since the online-rigging scandal came to light last month, 30 people have been booked, after the police found 21 additional members of the online community founded by Druking, for their alleged involvement in the comment manipulation scheme.

Implicated in the scandal, Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, a close aide to President Moon, was summoned for police questioning last week.

Kim has known and been in contact with Druking since 2016 and he sent at least 10 messages containing website links to news articles on President Moon from November 2016 to last month.

In addition, the lawmaker's aide took 5 million won from the blogger early this year -- although the money was returned after Druking's arrest.

The opinion-rigging scandal has led to political conflicts at the National Assembly.

Keeping a suspicious eye on the alleged connection between Kim and the online blogger, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party is calling for an independent counsel investigation of the case.

However, the ruling side dismisses the speculation as a political offensive ahead of the upcoming local elections.

The nation will hold the elections on June 13 that will choose 17 provincial governors and mayors as well as municipal government heads, council members and educational superintendents.

Kim is running for governor of South Gyeongsang Province.



Emailksw@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
WooriBank
 
  • New Year brings despair
  • Pakistani man killed during TikTok video stunt on train track
  • From 'America first' to 'Earth first'
  • North Korea sees talks as way to advance nuclear program, says US intel official
  • Inexcusable deaths of children in Korea
  • Balance of Joseon royal court interpreted through contemporary design
  • [INTERVIEW] AMCHAM chief says more chemistry to come between Korea, US
  • LG's value to improve with mobile biz restructuring: analysts
  • Growing number of businesses seek to tap into EV battery waste
  • 'Choose - I kill you or rape you': Abuse accusations surge in Ethiopia's war
  • [K-POP INTERVIEW] What are MOMOLAND's comfort foods? [VIDEO] [K-POP INTERVIEW] What are MOMOLAND's comfort foods? [VIDEO]
  • Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location Korean National Ballet, KBS criticized for dangerous filming location
  • National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint National Theater Company pursues barrier-free, reduction of carbon footprint
  • Popera singer Lim Hyung-joo: Music is my destiny Popera singer Lim Hyung-joo: Music is my destiny
  • HyunA to drop new EP, ending yearlong hiatus HyunA to drop new EP, ending yearlong hiatus
DARKROOM
  • Biden takes office as 46th president

    Biden takes office as 46th president

  • Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

    Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape

  • Second Trump impeachment

    Second Trump impeachment

  • Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

    Pro-Trump rioters breach the US Capitol

  • Our children deserve better (Part 2)

    Our children deserve better (Part 2)

WooriBank
  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright