Rival political parties clashed Wednesday over the government’s alleged censorship of private messages on mobile platforms, an issue that has raised concerns about freedom of expression in one of the world’s most wired nations.
The scandal centers on allegations that government monitors read messages sent on Kakao Talk, the flagship service of South Korea’s top mobile messenger operator Daum Kakao, in order to sift out remarks critical of President Park Geun-hye and her administration.
Daum Kakao apologized Monday, saying it cooperated with government requests for information about its users when they were made through official and legitimate channels.
It pledged to stop providing any further personal information and chat records of its users.
Amid the controversy, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) leveled its criticism directly at Park, accusing her of violating the Constitution and following in the footsteps of her late father and former President Park Chung-hee.
“Like father, like daughter,” Rep. Woo Sang-ho of the NPAD said during a party meeting. “This is no different from a declaration that President Park Geun-hye will inherit the public surveillance system of the Park Chung-hee era.”
The late president ruled the country with an iron fist for 18 years before he was assassinated by his top intelligence official in 1979. Critics accuse him of suppressing democracy, while supporters credit him with rebuilding the country’s economy following the 1950-53 Korean War.
“The president should remember Article 17 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the confidentiality and freedom of the people’s privacy should not be infringed upon,” Rep. Woo Yoon-keun, the floor leader of the NPAD, said.
The ruling Saenuri Party sought to stem the growing fears, saying it is too early to determine the truth behind the allegations.
“Cyber monitoring is impossible without a warrant issued following a judge’s strict deliberation. It’s only possible when there are suspicions of a crime and no democratic nation in the world is without it.” (Yonhap)
