Recently, there was an attempt to manipulat the views and ranking of comments on articles provided by web portals using the macro program (a same task repetition program) for the purpsoe of forming and leading public opinion.

However, the current Act only regulates the basic guidelines for the layout of news articles and disclosure of news article layout managers for online news service providers; and has no regulations or penal provisions against recent manipulation of public opinion.

Therefore, this Amendment aims to require online news service providers to provide articles only through the website of the producer of the article and to prohibit the display of a real-time ranking of articles and layout ranking, etc., of articles, where the relevant online news service provider mediates articles.

Details

A. Prohibit newspaper enterprisers, online newspaper enterprisers, and online news service providers from placing advertisements in the form of interfering readers’ subscription of articles (Article 6 (4) newly inserted)

B. Establish the basic guidelines for the layout of news articles and prohibit the layout of news articles that violate such basic guidelines, thereby protecting and enhancing the rights to know and freedom of expression of the people and ensuring the fair formualtion of public opinion (Article 10 (1))

C. Require online news service providers, where they mediate an article that they do not independently produce, to provide such article by hyperlinking it to the website of the real article provider (Article 10 (4))

D. Prohibit online news service providers from providing a real-time ranking of articles that they provide or mediate (Article 10 (8))

E. Establish a joint penal provision that a person who manipulates the layout ranking of news articles by altering or deleting it shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine of not exceeding 30 million won (Article 39 and Article 40 newly inserted)

F. Punish a person, etc. who does not provide articles by hyperlinking to a website by administrative fine of up to 30 million won (Article 41 (1) newly inserted)

Newspaper enterprisers, online newspaper enterprisers, and online news service providers shall not place advertisements in the form of interfering readers’ subscription of articles (Article 6).
Online news service providers shall not make layout of news articles in violation of the basic guidelines; shall provide an article by hyperlinking it to the webpage of the original article provider, and shall not make manipulations such as altering or deleting the order of the articles to be provided or mediated to render unfair advantage or damage (Article 10).