2018 opinion rigging scandal in South Korea

The 2018 opinion rigging scandal in South Korea is a political scandal that erupted in April 2018 after a group of ardent supporters of the South Korean President Moon Jae-in had been charged with online opinion rigging.[1] The accused suspects were the members of the ruling Democratic Party (DPK).[2] The main perpetrator, as well as the leader of the pro-Moon group, was a well-known power-blogger called "Druking."[1]

2018 opinion rigging scandal in South Korea
The fake company's office where the perpetrators committed online opinion rigging
Native name 더불어민주당원 댓글 조작 사건
English name2018 opinion rigging scandal in South Korea
Duration2014 – 13 April 2018
LocationPaju, South Korea
Coordinates37.712676°N 126.686071°E / 37.712676; 126.686071

Organized opinion rigging

Druking established a fake company known as the "Neureupnamu (Japanese elm) publishing company" in the city of Paju for organized opinion rigging.[3][4] The accused used a macro program that can generate a barrage of online comments and likes in a few seconds in order to manipulate the public opinion in their favor.[4]

Controversy

The scandal led to a clash of political parties in South Korea. The Blue House and the ruling Democratic Party insisted that they are also a victim of the scandal.[1] But the opposition parties emphasized that, since President Moon's involvement is suspected, this scandal is linked to the Moon administration's legitimacy.[5] They called for a special prosecutor investigation for scrutiny.[5]

Special prosecutor investigation
A protester criticizes Druking and calls for Moon Jae-in's impeachment at the front of the special prosecutor's office

On 21 May 2018, the National Assembly of South Korea passed a bill to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the scandal.[6]

On 8 June president Moon has appointed former prosecutor and current lawyer Huh Ik-beom for the special prosecutor.[7]

Justice Party lawmaker and long-time progressive activist Roh Hoe-chan committed suicide on 23 July during the investigation.

Kim Kyung-Soo, the current governor of South Gyeongsang Province and former lawmaker, was summoned by the Special Prosecutor, on 7 August.[8]

The special prosecutor issued the warrant for arrest on Kim, however the request was rejected by Seoul central district court.[9] Prosecutor Huh announced the official end of investigation on 27 August without any extension of period.[10] The prosecutor announced the conclusion, that governor Kim, lawmaker at that time, is accomplice to the scandal, and will be under indictment without detention.[9]

The Minjoo Party spokesperson criticized the special prosecutor, claiming the investigation process depended only on Druking's testimonial, without any proper evidence.[11]

Decryption of encrypted files

In the special prosecutor investigation for Druking in South Korea, the special prosecutor team tried to decrypt files encrypted by TrueCrypt and he succeeded to decrypt some of them.[12][13]

The special prosecutor said the hidden volumes were the specially difficult part to deal with. He decrypted some of encrypted files by inputting words that Druking group possibly use as passwords into passphrases as parts of them. For instance, Druking group likes words such as Zi wei dou shu (Purple Star Astrology) and KKM (acronym of 경제적 공진화 모임), so the special prosecutor team tried to input them into the passphrases as parts of them.[14][15]

After the special prosecutor team decrypted some of the encrypted files, Druking's associates changed their minds in the investigation.[16]

References
  1. "Opinion-Rigging Scandal Rattles Cheong Wa Dae". The Chosun Ilbo. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  2. "Police Detain Bloggers Accused of Rigging Online Comments". KBS World. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  3. "Blogger sent 5 million won to Rep. Kim's aide: Police". Korea JoongAng Daily. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  4. "Online Comment Rigging". KBS World. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  5. "(LEAD) LKP submits bills for special probes into opinion rigging scandal, controversy over ex-FSS chief". Yonhap. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  6. "[Newsmaker] Parliament OKs bills on extra budget, special counsel probe". The Korea Herald. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  7. http://www.rokdrop.net/2018/06/president-moon-appoints-special-counsel-to-investigate-druking-scandal/
  8. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180806000118
  9. http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/society/society_general/858141.html
  10. https://news.joins.com/article/22917887
  11. http://news.donga.com/3/all/20180822/91629479/2
  12. [일문일답] ‘드루킹 특검’ 종료…“수사 종료 자체 판단…외압 없었다”, NewsPim, 2018.08.27., http://newspim.com/news/view/20180827000369
  13. 특검 "김경수, 킹크랩 개발·운영 허락…댓글 8800만건 조작 관여", Maeil Business Newspaper, 2018.08.27., http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?year=2018&no=538301
  14. "드루킹 일당이 걸어둔 암호 풀어라"…특검, 전문가 총동원, Yonhap, 2018/07/18, http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2018/07/18/0200000000AKR20180718142500004.HTML
  15. ＂드루킹 댓글조작 1/3 암호…FBI도 못 푸는 트루크립트 사용＂, OBS Gyeongin TV, 2018.07.19, http://voda.donga.com/3/all/39/1394189/1
  16. 'FBI도 못 푼다'는 암호 풀자 드루킹 측근들 태도가 변했다, Chosun Broadcasting Company, 2018.07.18, http://news.tvchosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/07/18/2018071890102.html
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