Free Speech? F*ck You, Citizens!

How is a democracy supposed to work when citizens can be criminally prosecuted for disagreeing with the government? It’s too bad that there’s nobody left outside Korea who can pressure the government here to actually allow criticism, differing opinions, and so on.

But hey, when the major governments of the world are convinced they have God on their side…

The national prosecution and police say they are going to criminally prosecute people involved in spreading so-called “mad cow horror stories” (gwangubyeong goedam) on the Internet, in addition to prosecuting the organizers of candlelight protests against imports of American beef.

A high-ranking police official, said the police see it as a “serious problem” that there is “inaccurate information about American beef and criticism of government policy that is not factual overflowing” on the Internet.

Laws that could possibly put to use in criminal prosecution include information and communications laws, and laws against defamation and“obstruction of business” (eommu banghae joe).

I don’t see how publishing information online is “obstructing business” but you know, I guess when you’re rummaging around for laws to stop people from saying they disagree with your policies, one hammer is as good as another for that recalcitrant nail.

Students and other young people I know are saying, increasingly, that they’re worried… they’re using words like “dictator” when they come and talk to me, talking about the people who ran this country twenty and thirty years ago.

That’s giving me the chills, and to be honest, I’m growing more and more eager for the time when Lime and I move on outta here.