DaeRyuk Law Firm, led by Managing Partner Lee Kyu-cheol, announced the establishment of its 'Media Dispute Resolution Team' on July 17.
The new team aims to provide specialized legal services related to media disputes, particularly in light of the revised Information and Communications Network Act that took effect on July 7.
The revised law imposes liability for damages up to five times the amount for media outlets that intentionally distribute illegal or false manipulated information causing harm to others. It also allows courts to impose fines of up to 1 billion won for distributing confirmed false information more than twice. Additionally, large platforms with over 1 million daily users are required to take action, such as deleting content or suspending accounts, upon receiving reports of illegal or false information and to disclose the results.
The Media Team will collaborate to provide a comprehensive solution, with the 'Media Strategy and Communication Team' proactively defending clients' risks by accurately predicting public opinion trends in the 'court of public opinion,' and the 'Media Dispute and Litigation Team' protecting clients' reputations from damages caused by fake news and misinformation in the 'court of law.'
They will support proactive responses, including strategic advice on media engagement, crisis management system establishment, and securing communication channels with media and stakeholders from the early stages of incidents. In the event of disputes, they will handle requests for corrections, counter-statements, and follow-up reports to the Media Arbitration Commission, as well as civil and criminal lawsuits for defamation and insult. They will also assist in requests for the deletion of false information on portals and communities, applications for review by the Korea Communications Commission, and defense against punitive damages and fine risks under the revised Information and Communications Network Act.
Lee Kyu-cheol will directly lead the team. He previously served as a Supreme Court research judge and chief judge of the Wonju branch, and after becoming a lawyer, he was a spokesperson for the Special Prosecutor's Office during the National Assembly scandal.
Other team members include Oh Sun-hee, a former chief judge of the media division at the Seoul Central District Court and head of the Media Arbitration Commission; Jeong Woo-jeong, a former Supreme Court public relations officer; Kim Dong-joo, who has experience in public relations as the head of the General Affairs Department at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office; Choi Won-hyuk, a former National Assembly aide with expertise in legislative and public relations; and Jeong Seong-yoon, who has served as the editor-in-chief of a legal newspaper and currently works as a mediator in the media division of the Seoul High Court. They will provide thorough advisory and litigation services based on their extensive practical knowledge and experience.
Lee Kyu-cheol stated, "Experts who have worked on the front lines of media, including as spokespersons for special prosecutors, heads of media arbitration, Supreme Court public relations officers, and editors at media outlets, will act swiftly. We will provide a one-stop service covering everything from media response strategy development to dispute resolution."
For more information, contact Choi Won-hyuk, the team secretary, at whchoi@draju.com.
DaeRyuk Law Firm is a major law firm in South Korea, formed in 2009 through the merger of DaeRyuk and Aju. It specializes in corporate legal affairs, mergers and acquisitions, fair trade, labor and employment, finance, taxation, litigation, and corporate advisory, and is recognized as one of the top 10 law firms in the country.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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