Those who are caught distributing suicide-related information, such as documents, photographs, videos, or sales information regarding suicide-causing materials will face up to two years in prison or a fine. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on Tuesday a revised law on suicide prevention, which makes sharing suicidogenic information online illegal.
If caught distributing such information, the individual responsible will be sentenced to jail time.
The revised law will take effect in six months, on July 16. The revised law contains more effective rules than existing legislation to prevent suicide.
First, the ministry prepared legal grounds for preventing the online distribution of suicidogenic information by securing personal information and location information regarding the distributors to rescue people at risk of suicide.
The ministry also plans to reinforce measures to prevent the distribution and spread of suicidogenic information on overseas sites, which was in the blind spot of current laws and resulted in difficulty blocking the information.
When an individual is asked to submit personal information and location information by police officers, maritime police, and fire departments in order to rescue people at risk of suicide, the individual will be obliged to follow the request.
Those who refuse to do will be sentenced to jail time of up to one year or a fine.
Those who are caught distributing suicide-related information, such as documents, photographs, videos, or sales information regarding suicide-causing materials will face up to two years in prison or a fine.
Furthermore, the ministry asked television broadcasters to cooperate in sending anti-suicide PR images on their broadcasts to strengthen the promotion of suicide prevention.
Lastly, the revised law allows the state and local governments to actively guide the support measures and procedures for the bereaved families of victims.
The revised law expands the range of support for the bereaved families of suicide victims, including counseling, legal support, and living expenses.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
