Man in Daegu referred to prosecutors for spreading false claims about May 18 pro-democracy uprising

A man in his 30s who posted false claims on social media describing the May 18 pro-democracy uprising as a "riot instigated by North Korean spies" has been referred to prosecutors.

The Dalseo Police Station in Daegu said Sunday it had forwarded the suspect, identified only as A, to prosecutors without detention on charges of violating the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement for spreading false information about the uprising on social media.

A is accused of posting on his social media account on May 19 that the May 18 pro-democracy uprising was "a riot instigated by spies who agitated some Gwangju citizens."

He also faces charges of spreading false information by describing the uprising as "a riot caused by North Korean spies."

Under the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement, spreading false information about the uprising is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won (about $32,800).

"We will strengthen monitoring of social media posts that maliciously distort historical facts and stoke social division online, and will apply a zero-tolerance policy to prosecute any such cases when detected," a police official said.