A false statement by President Lee Jae-myung, which includes raising the capital gains tax rate for overseas stocks to 40 percent and implementing a new holding tax of 1 percent per year, was circulated online, prompting the president's office to respond. In a related move, police launched an internal investigation before the charges were filed.
The president's office said in a notice on the 27th, "We have not published the statement, and the contents of the statement are clearly false."
He then pointed out, "The dissemination of false manipulation information stolen by the president's name is a very serious crime."
The president's office has taken a firm stance on the production and dissemination of false information, he said. "We will take a strong legal action against the spread of false statements."
On this day, some online communities circulated a statement in the form of "received writing" that President Lee defined the current Korean economy as a "foreign exchange crisis" and raised the capital gains tax rate on overseas stocks to 40 percent and implemented a new overseas stock holding tax of 1% per year.
The National Investigation Headquarters said in a media announcement on the same day, "An article impersonating the president saying, 'Increase the transfer income tax rate of overseas stocks, establishment of a new holding tax' is being circulated online," adding, "We will track the details of the distribution and take stern measures in accordance with the law."
"It is a grave criminal act that could seriously confuse the government's policy with false information that impersonates the president," the ministry stressed. The internal investigation will be conducted by the cyber investigation team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Strategy and Finance Koo Yoon-chul mentioned the possibility of strengthening the capital gains tax on overseas stocks at a press conference on exchange rates.
Reporter Lee Ju-young [email protected]
“Fake news has gone too far. Their intentions are so obvious that all those involved must be caught and severely punished. In any case, members of the cabinet should really be more careful with their words.”