Muzzling press freedom?

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pushed through the revised Information and Communications Network Act Wednesday, to the concern of many. The legislation, dubbed the "anti-fake news bill," stipulates punitive damages up to five times the amount of losses sustained by "false or fabricated" information by traditional news media or YouTubers, and seeks to ban their circulation across online platforms. The bill also includes a provision for a fine of up to 50 million won ($34,494) for unquantifiable losses. Further, if information already ruled "false or fabricated" is spread more than twice, the Korea Media and Communications Commission, a media regulator agency, can fine outlets up to 1 billion won for distributing false or manipulated information. The outlets and video channels subject to the penalty would be determined by a presidential decree. Too heavy a penalty or censorship? Some say it smacks of both, while the DPK rebuffs that criticism. The legislation was a source of controversy, even from inception. Liberal legal groups such as Minbyun, or Lawyers for a Democratic Soc