Singer JK Kim Dong-wook, referred without detention on suspicion of spreading false information about President Lee Jae Myung and the government. Kyunghyang Shinmun file photo

Canadian-born singer JK Kim Dong-wook (John Kim) has been handed over to the prosecution on suspicion of spreading false information about President Lee Jae Myung and the government.

The Namyangju Northern Police Station in Gyeonggi Province sent JK Kim Dong-wook without detention on the 13th to the Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office on charges including violating the Information and Communications Network Act (defamation by alleging false facts); this was confirmed on the 14th.

He is suspected of repeatedly creating and disseminating false information about President Lee Jae Myung and the government on his social networking service (SNS) accounts.

In June last year, he posted remarks such as ‘A phone call between President Lee and U.S. President Trump did not take place’, and, in connection with President Lee's attendance at the G7 (Group of Seven) summit held in Alberta, Canada, he posted unverified conspiracy theories such as the ‘Lee Jae Myung being passed over rumor’ on his social networking service (SNS).

Regarding this, Shin Seung-mok, head of the National Participation Solidarity for Clearing Accumulated Evils, said in June last year, “The accused (JK Kim Dong-wook) took advantage of being a public figure and singer, and due to the characteristics of information networks, this case has spread far and wide, causing mental suffering not only to President Lee, the person involved, but also to many citizens,” and filed a complaint against JK Kim Dong-wook.

Prosecutors plan to focus their investigation, based on the police investigation records, on whether JK Kim Dong-wook had the purpose of slandering President Lee Jae Myung and the government and whether he recognized the falsity.

As a Canadian national, if a sentence of imprisonment or heavier (including a suspended sentence) is finalized, JK Kim Dong-wook becomes subject to an ‘forced removal review’ by the immigration authorities.

In addition, as in the case of singer Yoo Seung-jun (Steve Yoo), if there are sufficient grounds to recognize a concern that one may engage in conduct harmful to the interests of the Republic of Korea or public safety, one may likewise be subject to an entry ban or forced removal.