📋 Korean Law Insight | Criminal Law
By Attorney NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC, Seoul
Korean Defamation Law for Foreign Individuals and Businesses
South Korea has one of the most robust — and uniquely structured — defamation regimes in the world. Unlike many Western jurisdictions where defamation is treated exclusively as a civil matter, Korea criminalises defamation. This means that a foreigner living or doing business in Korea, or a foreign company with a Korean presence, can face criminal prosecution — not just a lawsuit — for statements made online or offline that injure another's reputation. Conversely, foreign individuals and companies that become victims of defamatory attacks in Korea have powerful legal tools to seek both criminal punishment and civil compensation for their tormentors.
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how Korean defamation law operates, who it applies to, what the penalties are, how truth and public interest defences work, and what practical steps foreign parties should take when either accused of or victimised by defamation in Korea.
1. The Legal Framework: Two Statutes, One Crime
Korean defamation law is primarily governed by two statutes:
- Criminal Act (형법), Articles 307–312 — The foundational defamation provisions covering both false and true statements that damage reputation.
- Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (정보통신망법), Article 70 — Governs online defamation (cyber-defamation), which carries heavier penalties.
The dual-track system is critical: criminal liability can attach even when the defamatory statement is true, provided it was made "for the purpose of defaming" another and is not justified by a legitimate public interest. This stands in sharp contrast to common law jurisdictions where truth is an absolute defence.
2. Elements of Defamation Under Korean Law
To constitute criminal defamation under Article 307 of the Criminal Act, four elements must be established:
- Identification — The victim must be identifiable. A company, organisation, or named individual qualifies.
- Statement of Fact — The statement must assert a specific fact (사실적시), not merely an opinion or value judgment. Courts have held that vague statements of opinion do not typically constitute defamation.
- Publicity — The statement must be made publicly (공연성), meaning it reaches an unspecified number of people or could spread to others. Even a statement to a single third party can satisfy this element if it could foreseeably disseminate.
- Damage to Reputation — The statement must objectively lower the social evaluation of the victim.
For cyber-defamation under Article 70 of the Network Act, the same elements apply, but the medium (information and communications network) triggers a heavier penalty regime.
3. Criminal Penalties
| Offence | Maximum Imprisonment | Maximum Fine |
|---|
| Defamation by true statements (Criminal Act Art. 307(1)) | 2 years | KRW 5 million |
| Defamation by false statements (Criminal Act Art. 307(2)) | 5 years | KRW 10 million |
| Online defamation by true statements (Network Act Art. 70(1)) | 3 years | KRW 30 million |
| Online defamation by false statements (Network Act Art. 70(2)) | 7 years | KRW 50 million |
Note that defamation targeting deceased persons is also criminalised under Article 308 of the Criminal Act, punishable by up to 2 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 5 million — a provision of particular relevance in disputes involving founders or executives of foreign companies who have passed away.
4. The Truth Defence and the "Solely for Public Interest" Requirement
Article 310 of the Criminal Act provides a complete defence where the defamatory statement relates to facts concerning the public interest (공공의 이익) and is made solely in the public interest. The Supreme Court of Korea has interpreted "public interest" broadly to include matters of community concern, corporate misconduct, and consumer protection issues. However, the key caveat is that both conditions must be met simultaneously: the subject matter must involve public interest, AND the speaker's motive must be solely to serve that public interest rather than to harm the victim.
In practice, this defence succeeds most often when whistleblowers, journalists, or consumer advocacy groups expose genuine misconduct. It is far harder to invoke when the statement is made by a business competitor, a disgruntled ex-employee, or someone with a personal grievance.
5. How Defamation Cases Begin: The Complaint-Triggered System
Korean criminal defamation is a "complaint-required" crime (친고죄 — though note that cyber-defamation under the Network Act is no longer strictly complaint-required). This means that for offline defamation, a criminal investigation is triggered by the victim filing a criminal complaint (고소) with the police or prosecutor's office. The complaint must be filed within six months of the victim discovering the offence (Criminal Procedure Act, Art. 230).
The practical implication is significant: the complaint process itself is frequently weaponised as a pressure tactic in Korea. Merely receiving a criminal complaint — even one ultimately dismissed — can cause reputational and business damage to foreign individuals and companies. Conversely, foreign victims can use the criminal complaint strategically to force a negotiated settlement with defamers who fear criminal records.
6. Civil Defamation Claims
Parallel to criminal liability, Korean civil law (Civil Act, Article 750 on general torts and Article 764 on reputation restoration) provides remedies for defamation victims:
- Monetary damages — Compensation for actual damages (pecuniary and non-pecuniary/emotional distress).
- Reputation restoration measures — Courts may order the defendant to publish an apology or correction notice (사죄광고), though the Constitutional Court has ruled that courts cannot compel the publication of an apology in a manner that violates the defendant's conscience. In practice, courts typically order correction notices rather than full apologies.
- Injunctive relief — Courts may issue orders to remove defamatory content, particularly online postings.
Damages in Korean civil defamation cases are generally modest by international standards, though business defamation cases involving demonstrable financial losses can yield more substantial awards.
7. Defamation Involving Foreign Companies and Individuals
Foreign nationals physically present in Korea are fully subject to Korean defamation law as both perpetrators and victims. For statements made from outside Korea but targeting Korean individuals or Korean-based businesses, jurisdiction is more complex. Korean courts have generally asserted jurisdiction where the defamatory content was accessible and caused reputational harm in Korea, particularly for online content.
For foreign companies with Korean subsidiaries or branches, defamatory statements about the Korean entity are actionable in Korea. Statements about the parent company or a wholly foreign entity are less straightforwardly actionable in Korean courts, though cases have been brought where the Korean presence was directly implicated.
8. Product and Business Disparagement
Korean law also recognises "business defamation" (업무방해 및 신용훼손), which specifically protects businesses against false statements of fact that damage their commercial reputation or credit. Article 313 of the Criminal Act penalises spreading false facts that injure another's credit or business with up to 5 years' imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 15 million. This provision is often invoked against competitors who make false comparative advertising claims, against bloggers or reviewers who post fabricated negative reviews, and against former employees who spread false information about their ex-employer.
9. Practical Steps for Foreign Parties
If You Are Accused of Defamation in Korea
- Do not ignore a criminal complaint (고소장) — failure to respond can result in a default finding against you.
- Retain Korean legal counsel immediately. The investigative stage with the police/prosecutor is critical; statements made without a lawyer can be used against you.
- Document all evidence of the public interest motivation for your statement.
- Consider whether settlement (합의) is appropriate — settlement with the complainant before indictment is a powerful mitigating factor in Korean criminal proceedings.
- If the allegation is factually baseless, prepare evidence and witnesses demonstrating the truth and context of your statement.
If You Are a Victim of Defamation in Korea
- Preserve evidence immediately — screenshots, URLs, archived pages. Korean courts rely heavily on contemporaneous documentary evidence.
- Identify the perpetrator — Korean portal sites and social media platforms must comply with court orders to disclose user information for defamation investigations.
- File a criminal complaint with the police or the Cyber Investigation Unit (사이버수사대) for online defamation.
- Simultaneously pursue civil injunctive relief to have defamatory content removed.
- Consider a civil damages claim to obtain financial compensation and a formal judicial record of the defamation.
10. The Intersection with Freedom of Expression
Korea's criminalisation of truthful defamatory statements has attracted criticism from international human rights bodies, including the UN Human Rights Committee, which has expressed concern that criminal defamation provisions may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression. The Korean judiciary has attempted to balance these concerns through the Article 310 public interest defence and by generally exercising prosecutorial and judicial discretion in cases involving legitimate criticism. Nonetheless, the threat of criminal prosecution remains a real and potent tool in the Korean legal landscape.
📌 Official References
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can a foreign company be criminally prosecuted for defamation in Korea?
Yes. Legal entities, including foreign companies with Korean operations, can be held criminally liable for defamation in Korea. However, criminal liability for legal entities is more complex — typically, the responsible individual (e.g., a director or employee who made the statement) would face criminal charges, while the company may face civil liability. The Network Act does provide for dual punishment of both the individual and the corporate entity in online defamation cases.
Q2: Is it defamation if I post a negative review online about a Korean business?
It depends. A negative review based on a genuine personal experience and factual statements is generally protected. However, if the review contains false statements of fact (not mere opinions), is exaggerated beyond your actual experience, or appears designed to harm rather than inform, it could constitute defamation. Korean courts draw a distinction between protected opinion and actionable false statements of fact. Reviews that are demonstrably factual and serve the public interest in consumer protection are more likely to be protected.
Q3: How long does a Korean defamation case take?
A criminal defamation investigation typically takes 3–12 months from complaint filing to prosecutorial decision. If the case proceeds to trial, add another 6–18 months. Civil defamation cases at the district court level typically resolve in 12–24 months. Cases with significant factual disputes or involving online content from multiple sources may take longer.
Q4: What is the difference between defamation (명예훼손) and insult (모욕)?
Defamation under Article 307 requires a statement of specific fact. Insult (모욕) under Article 311 involves expressing contempt or abuse without stating any specific fact — for example, calling someone "stupid" or using profane language in public. Insult is punishable by up to 1 year's imprisonment or a fine of up to KRW 2 million. Both offences require public disclosure and victim identification, but defamation is generally considered more serious due to the specific factual nature of the allegation.
Q5: Can I be sued in Korea for defamation posted on social media while I was outside Korea?
Potentially, yes. Korean courts have exercised jurisdiction over online defamation where the content was accessible in Korea and caused reputational harm to a person or business in Korea. Foreign courts' decisions in this regard have varied, but the trend in Korean jurisprudence supports asserting jurisdiction over online content targeting Korean subjects, regardless of where the poster is physically located.
Q6: Does Korean law protect whistleblowers who report corporate misconduct?
Yes, to a significant degree. The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (청탁금지법) and the Public Interest Reporting Act (공익신고자 보호법) provide protections for whistleblowers. Additionally, the Article 310 Criminal Act defence for statements made in the public interest has been applied to shield legitimate whistleblowers from criminal defamation liability, particularly when reporting to competent authorities or credible media rather than to the general public in a manner calculated to cause maximum harm.
Q7: What damages can a victim realistically recover in a Korean civil defamation case?
For individual plaintiffs, non-pecuniary (emotional distress) damages typically range from KRW 3 million to KRW 50 million, depending on the severity of the defamation and the extent of its spread. For business entities, demonstrable financial losses (e.g., cancelled contracts, lost customers traceable to the defamatory statement) can support higher awards. Courts may also order removal of defamatory content and publication of a correction notice, which often has more practical value to victims than monetary compensation.
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📋 韩国法律洞察 | 刑事法
作者：NOH UJIN 律师 | HANBYOL LAW LLC，首尔
针对外国人和外国企业的韩国诽谤法
韩国拥有全球最为健全且独具特色的诽谤法律制度。与许多将诽谤单纯视为民事问题的西方国家不同，韩国将诽谤行为入罪化。这意味着在韩国生活或经营的外国人，或在韩国设有机构的外国企业，可能面临刑事追诉——而不仅仅是民事诉讼——因为其线上或线下发表的损害他人名誉的言论。反之，在韩国遭受诽谤的外国人和企业，可以借助强有力的法律工具追究诽谤者的刑事责任并获得民事赔偿。
1. 法律框架：双重立法体系
韩国诽谤法主要由两部法律规范：
- 《刑法》第307至312条——基本诽谤条款，涵盖损害名誉的真实和虚假陈述。
- 《信息通信网络法》第70条——规范网络诽谤（网络中伤），处罚更为严厉。
双轨制至关重要：即便陈述内容属实，若系"以诽谤为目的"且不符合正当公共利益，仍可追究刑事责任。这与以真实性作为绝对抗辩理由的普通法体系形成鲜明对比。
2. 构成要件
- 可识别性——受害人须可被识别，企业、组织或具名个人均符合条件。
- 事实陈述——须为具体事实主张（사실적시），而非单纯意见或价值判断。
- 公开性——须向不特定多数人公开（공연성），即使向单一第三方陈述，若可预见会传播，亦可满足此要件。
- 名誉损害——须客观上降低受害人的社会评价。
3. 刑事处罚
| 罪名 | 最高有期徒刑 | 最高罚款 |
|---|
| 真实事实诽谤（刑法第307条第1款） | 2年 | 500万韩元 |
| 虚假事实诽谤（刑法第307条第2款） | 5年 | 1000万韩元 |
| 网络真实事实诽谤（网络法第70条第1款） | 3年 | 3000万韩元 |
| 网络虚假事实诽谤（网络法第70条第2款） | 7年 | 5000万韩元 |
4. 真实性抗辩与公共利益要件
《刑法》第310条规定，若诽谤性陈述涉及公共利益事项且出于维护公共利益的唯一目的，可构成完全抗辩。韩国最高法院将"公共利益"广义解释为社区关切、企业不当行为及消费者保护等事项。然而，关键在于两项条件须同时满足：事项须涉及公共利益，且发言动机须仅为维护公共利益，而非损害受害人。
5. 实用建议
若您被指控诽谤
- 切勿忽视刑事告诉状——未予回应可能导致不利后果。
- 立即聘请韩国律师。侦查阶段的陈述至关重要。
- 记录发表言论出于公共利益目的的一切证据。
- 考虑在起诉前与告诉人达成和解——和解是韩国刑事程序中的重要减轻情节。
若您是诽谤受害人
- 立即保存证据——截图、网址、存档页面。
- 确认侵权人身份——门户网站和社交媒体平台须依法院命令披露用户信息。
- 向警方或网络调查队（사이버수사대）提交刑事告诉。
- 同步申请民事禁令，要求删除诽谤内容。
常见问题解答（FAQ）
Q1：外国企业能否在韩国被追究诽谤刑事责任？
可以。在韩国经营的外国企业可依法承担诽谤刑事责任。通常是由具体发表言论的个人（如董事或员工）面临刑事指控，而企业可能承担民事责任。《网络法》对网络诽谤案件规定了对个人和企业的双重处罚。
Q2：在网上发布针对韩国商家的负面评价是否构成诽谤？
视情况而定。基于真实亲身经历的负面评价通常受到保护。但若评价包含虚假事实陈述、夸大其词或明显旨在损害商誉，则可能构成诽谤。韩国法院对受保护的意见与可诉的虚假事实陈述作出明确区分。
Q3：诽谤（명예훼손）与侮辱（모욕）有何区别？
诽谤须包含具体事实陈述，而侮辱是在未陈述任何具体事实的情况下公开表达蔑视或谩骂——例如当众辱骂他人。侮辱罪最高可判处1年有期徒刑或200万韩元罚款，诽谤罪通常被视为更为严重的犯罪。
Q4：在境外社交媒体发布的内容是否受韩国诽谤法管辖？
可能如此。若内容可在韩国境内访问且对韩国当事人造成名誉损害，韩国法院通常主张管辖权。
Q5：举报企业不当行为的举报人是否受到保护？
是的。《不当劝诱及腐败行为禁止法》和《公益举报人保护法》为举报人提供保护。《刑法》第310条的公共利益抗辩也已被适用于保护合法举报人。
📚 相关文章
📋 韓国法律インサイト | 刑事法
弁護士 NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC、ソウル
外国人・外国企業のための韓国名誉毀損法
韓国は世界でも最も体系的かつ独特な名誉毀損法制度を持つ国の一つです。多くの西側諸国が名誉毀損を民事問題として扱うのとは異なり、韓国では名誉毀損を刑事犯罪として規定しています。つまり、韓国在住または韓国でビジネスを行う外国人、あるいは韓国に拠点を持つ外国企業は、オンラインまたはオフラインで他者の名誉を傷つける発言をした場合、民事訴訟だけでなく刑事訴追を受ける可能性があります。
1. 法的枠組み：二重の立法体系
- 刑法第307条〜312条——名誉を傷つける真実・虚偽の陳述を規律する基本規定。
- 情報通信網法第70条——ネット上の名誉毀損（サイバー名誉毀損）を規律し、より重い刑罰が適用される。
2. 名誉毀損の構成要件
- 特定性——被害者が識別可能であること。
- 事実の摘示——具体的な事実の陳述（事実摘示）であること。単なる意見や価値判断は通常含まれない。
- 公然性——不特定多数の人に公開されること。
- 名誉の毀損——被害者の社会的評価を客観的に低下させること。
3. 刑事罰
| 罪名 | 最高懲役 | 最高罰金 |
|---|
| 真実の事実による名誉毀損（刑法307条1項） | 2年 | 500万ウォン |
| 虚偽の事実による名誉毀損（刑法307条2項） | 5年 | 1000万ウォン |
| ネット上の真実の事実による名誉毀損（情報通信網法70条1項） | 3年 | 3000万ウォン |
| ネット上の虚偽の事実による名誉毀損（情報通信網法70条2項） | 7年 | 5000万ウォン |
4. 真実性の抗弁と公共利益要件
刑法第310条は、公共の利益に関する事実について、専ら公共の利益のために行われた陳述について完全な抗弁を認めています。韓国最高裁は「公共の利益」をコミュニティの関心事、企業の不正行為、消費者保護問題を含むものとして広く解釈しています。ただし、二つの条件が同時に満たされなければなりません。
5. 外国人・外国企業に関する実務的留意点
- 刑事告訴状を無視しないこと——未対応は不利な判断につながる可能性があります。
- 直ちに韓国弁護士を選任すること。捜査段階での供述は重要です。
- 公共の利益目的であることを示す証拠を確保すること。
- 起訴前の被害者との示談（합의）を検討すること——韓国刑事手続における重要な減軽事由です。
よくある質問（FAQ）
Q1：外国企業は韓国で名誉毀損の刑事責任を問われますか？
はい。韓国で事業を行う外国企業も名誉毀損の刑事責任を負い得ます。通常、陳述を行った個人（取締役や従業員）が刑事責任を問われ、企業は民事責任を負います。情報通信網法はネット上の名誉毀損について個人と法人の双方への処罰を規定しています。
Q2：SNSでの投稿も韓国の名誉毀損法の対象になりますか？
はい。韓国国外から投稿された場合でも、その内容が韓国でアクセス可能で、韓国の人物・企業の名誉を傷つけた場合、韓国の裁判所は管轄権を主張し得ます。
Q3：名誉毀損（명예훼손）と侮辱（모욕）の違いは何ですか？
名誉毀損は具体的な事実の摘示を要しますが、侮辱は具体的な事実なしに公然と侮辱・罵倒する行為です。侮辱罪の法定刑は最高1年の懲役または200万ウォンの罰金であり、名誉毀損より軽い処罰となっています。
Q4：企業の不正を内部告発した場合、名誉毀損で訴えられますか？
内部告発者保護法（공익신고자 보호법）や不正請託禁止法により、正当な内部告発者は一定程度保護されます。刑法第310条の公共利益の抗弁も適用される場合があります。
Q5：韓国でネット名誉毀損被害にあった場合、何をすべきですか？
まず証拠を保全（スクリーンショット、URL等）してください。次に、サイバー捜査隊（사이버수사대）に刑事告訴し、コンテンツ削除の仮処分も申立てることを検討してください。
📚 関連記事
📋 Perspectiva Jurídica Coreana | Derecho Penal
Por el Abogado NOH UJIN | HANBYOL LAW LLC, Seúl
Ley de Difamación en Corea para Personas y Empresas Extranjeras
Corea del Sur cuenta con uno de los regímenes de difamación más robustos y únicos del mundo. A diferencia de muchas jurisdicciones occidentales donde la difamación se trata exclusivamente como asunto civil, Corea la tipifica como delito penal. Esto significa que un extranjero que vive o hace negocios en Corea, o una empresa extranjera con presencia coreana, puede enfrentar enjuiciamiento penal —no solo una demanda civil— por declaraciones que dañen la reputación de otra persona, ya sea en línea o fuera de línea.
1. Marco Legal: Doble Sistema Legislativo
- Código Penal, Artículos 307–312——Disposiciones básicas de difamación que cubren declaraciones verdaderas y falsas que dañan la reputación.
- Ley de Redes de Información y Comunicación, Artículo 70——Regula la difamación en línea (ciberdifamación), con penas más severas.
2. Elementos del Delito de Difamación
- Identificación——La víctima debe ser identificable.
- Declaración de hecho——Debe ser una afirmación de hecho específico, no mera opinión.
- Publicidad——La declaración debe hacerse públicamente, alcanzando a un número indeterminado de personas.
- Daño a la reputación——La declaración debe disminuir objetivamente la valoración social de la víctima.
3. Sanciones Penales
| Delito | Prisión máxima | Multa máxima |
|---|
| Difamación con hechos verdaderos (CP Art. 307(1)) | 2 años | 5 millones KRW |
| Difamación con hechos falsos (CP Art. 307(2)) | 5 años | 10 millones KRW |
| Ciberdifamación con hechos verdaderos (Ley Redes Art. 70(1)) | 3 años | 30 millones KRW |
| Ciberdifamación con hechos falsos (Ley Redes Art. 70(2)) | 7 años | 50 millones KRW |
4. La Defensa de Verdad e Interés Público
El Artículo 310 del Código Penal contempla una defensa completa cuando la declaración difamatoria se refiere a hechos de interés público y se realiza exclusivamente en beneficio del interés público. El Tribunal Supremo coreano interpreta "interés público" de manera amplia. Sin embargo, ambas condiciones deben cumplirse simultáneamente: el asunto debe involucrar el interés público Y la motivación del hablante debe ser únicamente servir a dicho interés.
5. Pasos Prácticos para Partes Extranjeras
Si Es Acusado de Difamación en Corea
- No ignore una denuncia penal — la falta de respuesta puede tener consecuencias adversas.
- Contrate asesoría jurídica coreana de inmediato.
- Documente toda evidencia de su motivación de interés público.
- Considere la conciliación antes del procesamiento — es un factor atenuante poderoso.
Si Es Víctima de Difamación en Corea
- Preserve evidencia de inmediato — capturas de pantalla, URLs, páginas archivadas.
- Identifique al perpetrador mediante ordenes judiciales a plataformas digitales.
- Presente una denuncia penal ante la policía o la Unidad de Investigación Cibernética.
- Solicite medidas cautelares civiles para eliminar el contenido difamatorio.
Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)
P1: ¿Puede una empresa extranjera ser procesada penalmente por difamación en Corea?
Sí. Las empresas extranjeras con operaciones en Corea pueden enfrentar responsabilidad penal por difamación. Generalmente, el individuo responsable (director o empleado) enfrentaría cargos penales, mientras que la empresa podría enfrentar responsabilidad civil.
P2: ¿Las reseñas negativas en línea sobre negocios coreanos constituyen difamación?
Depende. Una reseña negativa basada en experiencia genuina y hechos verídicos generalmente está protegida. Sin embargo, declaraciones falsas de hechos, exageración más allá de la experiencia real o contenido diseñado para dañar pueden constituir difamación.
P3: ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre difamación (명예훼손) e insulto (모욕)?
La difamación requiere una declaración de hecho específico, mientras que el insulto consiste en expresar desprecio o abuso sin declarar ningún hecho específico — por ejemplo, insultar a alguien públicamente. El insulto se castiga con hasta 1 año de prisión o multa de hasta 2 millones KRW.
P4: ¿Puede ser demandado en Corea por publicaciones en redes sociales realizadas desde el extranjero?
Potencialmente sí. Los tribunales coreanos han ejercido jurisdicción sobre difamación en línea cuando el contenido era accesible en Corea y causó daño reputacional a personas o empresas en Corea.
P5: ¿Los denunciantes que reportan irregularidades corporativas están protegidos?
Sí, en gran medida. La Ley de Protección de Denunciantes de Interés Público y la defensa del Artículo 310 del Código Penal protegen a denunciantes legítimos de responsabilidad penal por difamación.
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