South Korea stands as one of the world’s most digitally active societies. However, recent studies suggest that it is ill-equipped to tackle the burgeoning challenge of online misinformation. Deep-seated political divides have only compounded the problem, as many seem unwilling to address the challenge head-on.

At a conservative rally in late June, President Yoon Suk-yeol highlighted the threats that “false instigations, fabrications and fake news” present to South Korea’s freedom. However, these warnings were largely veiled criticisms of the policies of the preceding Moon Jae-in administration.

But the politicization of the term “fake news” in South Korea is not new or one-sided. The Moon administration itself faced backlash in 2021 when it proposed a controversial bill, which critics argued could stifle media freedom.

“These days politicians, or even just laypeople, just use the terms ‘fake news’ or ‘misinformation’ to attack the other side,” Sangwon Lee, an assistant professor in communication studies at New Mexico State University, told Korea Pro.

The freedom to question those in power is vital for democracy, and allowing only cherry-picked opinions creates an echo chamber that helps actual misinformation propagate, he warned.

“In this political environment, people unfairly label information they don’t like as fake news, which hinders further deliberation on political matters,” he said.

At its core, this politicization of news mirrors a society deeply polarized, where many individuals instinctively reject narratives that clash with their pre-existing beliefs. This reluctance perpetuates and amplifies growing concerns about misinformation.

President Yoon Suk-yeol denounces ‘fake news’ at a conservative rally, June 28, 2023 | Image: ROK Presidential Office

‘FAKE NEWS’ CONCERNS

The Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report 2023 reveals a striking figure: About 67% of South Korean respondents express concerns about discerning truth from falsehood online, surpassing the global average of 56%.

This issue is further compounded by the public’s lack of trust in the media. A mere 28% of South Koreans trust news outlets, positioning the nation at 41st out of 46 countries surveyed.

The specter of “fake news” looms large in South Korea, especially in areas touching on personal ideologies and everyday experiences. Of the approximately 2,000 participants, a notable number reported encountering deceptive content related to politics. Discussions about the economy and COVID-19 also stood out as other priority topics.

However, despite this evident unease over misleading content online, many South Koreans seem inadequately equipped to distinguish between falsehoods and reality.

A joint study effort by the Center for Information Integrity at Nanyang Technical University (NTU) and Nikkei newspaper earlier in the year determined that only 34% of South Koreans felt confident in their ability to identify false narratives, ranking them second-last among the ten nations studied.

It may appear counterintuitive that a digitally-savvy nation cognizant of the threat of misleading news struggles so much with verifying information online, but according to the Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet Director Edson Tandoc Jr., the issue goes beyond mere digital proficiency.

“It may not be about the scale or knowing how to fact-check, but it’s the motivation, whether they actually see a need for fact-checking,” he told Korea Pro.

The problem lies in people’s “overconfidence” in their own beliefs, New Mexico State University’s Lee stated, adding that South Korea’s increasing political polarization creates ideological echo chambers.

“The main reason people fall for fake news stories is that people believe what they want to believe, and they do not scrutinize information, especially if that information benefits their own side,” he said.

An illustration of two people looking at their smartphones | Image: Korea Pro

SOUTH KOREA’S MISINFORMATION ENVIRONMENT

In one of the world’s most digitally connected countries, the appetite for news consumption has shifted. Instead of relying on traditional media, many now turn to online sources, the Reuters study found.

Major online portals like Naver and Daum serve as South Koreans’ gateways to the web. The pandemic also cemented social media’s role in news dissemination, with platforms like YouTube leading the charge. Other platforms such as the domestic messaging app KakaoTalk, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, though popular, trail behind YouTube in usage.

However, YouTube’s dominance poses its own challenges. Reuters’ Digital News Report 2020 highlighted that 31% of online news consumers expressed concerns over YouTube being a conduit for misinformation.

The platform’s visual-driven content appeals to a broad audience, as shown when a surging alt-right movement targeted elderly voters in the lead-up to the last presidential elections, disseminating conspiracy theories and disinformation via the platform.

The leading portal sites also amplify this problem by creating their own bubbles of like-minded individuals, Sangwon Lee stated.

“These portal sites are often used by ideologically homogeneous people, which makes a media environment more vulnerable to fake news,” he said but added that leading portals appear to be working to address this.  

Complicating matters further is the spread of false information through messaging apps, notably KakaoTalk. Given that nearly every South Korean uses KakaoTalk to communicate with family and friends, Lee said this personal connection makes people less likely to challenge false news.

“We trust those people because we like them and then if fake news or misinformation is shared through KakaoTalk either through one-on-one talk or group chats, people tend to scrutinize the veracity of that information less, and people are more likely to fall for such information,” he explained.

Speech bubble saying “fake news,” March 27, 2019, Christoph Scholz via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

OVERCOMING THE ‘INFODEMIC’

Amid South Korea’s ongoing battle with an “information epidemic,” or infodemic, some are actively working to counter the rising tide of “fake news.”

Twelve fact-checking services exist in the country, according to Duke University’s Reporters’ Lab. Notably, AFP FactCheck and JTBC have secured licenses as Facebook’s official fact-checkers.

Seoul National University (SNU) FactCheck stands out in the local arena, partnering with mainstream media outlets to verify politicians’ statements and social media posts.

However, public awareness of these fact-checking initiatives seems limited, according to Timothy Rich, director of Western Kentucky University’s International Public Opinion Lab.

“My sense is that there haven’t been any well-established fact-check organizations, like the equivalent of PolitiFact or Snopes in the U.S. or Taiwan FactCheck Center in Taiwan,” he said, adding that it remains unclear how much people know of or use SNU FactCheck.

He told Korea Pro that mere verification is insufficient; the broader challenge is whether the public is inclined to accept these fact-checks or adopt a culture of habitual fact-checking themselves.

NTU’s Tandoc Jr. underscores the importance of addressing individuals’ unwillingness to accept facts that conflict with their beliefs.

“Approaching the problem by telling people that they are wrong or that they need to be educated may backfire because they think they are correct,” he stated.

Tandoc Jr. argues for the prioritization of media literacy, advocating for strategies to rebuild trust in media by explaining how it works.

He proposes an approach that merges “fact-checking” with “fact education,” recommending that verification be more interesting, including interactive games that introduce young children to fact-checking principles.

Rich believes in the efficacy of “soft hand initiatives” that nudge the public toward fact-checking. Strategies might involve encouraging users to read articles in their entirety before sharing them or employing clear fact-check markers on social media posts.

“Ultimately, responding to misinformation is addressing a moving target,” Rich said. “Government and social media cooperation might be able to address some aspects … but the individual users need to feel that they are in control.”

Edited by John Lee