Fabricated South Korea 'curfew alert' sparks confusion online

Published on December 4, 2024 at 09:38
2 min read
By SHIM Kyu-Seok, AFP South Korea

Moments after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law over the country, an image of a news segment circulated on social media with a fake chyron that said citizens violating an 11 pm curfew would be placed under arrest. But Yoon made no comments about a curfew applying to ordinary citizens in his announcement, nor was such a measure included in the martial law decree announced by the government.

The fake screenshot was shared on Facebook minutes after Yoon declared martial law nationwide on December 3 -- the first such measure to be imposed in South Korea in over four decades (archived link).

It shows Yoon's martial law declaration as reported by local broadcaster TV Chosun, with a chyron that reads: "Breaking news, any citizen moving around after 11 pm will be searched and arrested."

"Tonight at 10:30 pm Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law and tried to dissolve the National Assembly," the Facebook post read.

Yoon's announcement to impose martial law prompted alarmed lawmakers to gather and vote unanimously to reject the declaration and call for the measure to be lifted.

Following the lawmakers' vote, Yoon backed down. His cabinet additionally approved the motion to lift the order.

Screenshot of the misleading claim shared on Facebook captured on December 4

Posts with the falsified chyron quickly spread online, prompting panic from Facebook users who appeared to believe the curfew announcement was genuine.

"I get off late from work, how am I supposed to get home now?" one commented.

"How can they completely overturn our lives like this," another wrote.

Martial law decree

A keyword search on YouTube found the original footage of Yoon's declaration as broadcast live by TV Chosun (archived link).

Nowhere in Yoon's announcement was there a chyron displayed that referred to a curfew of any kind imposed on regular citizens.

The presidential office's official transcript of Yoon's declaration also includes no mention of a curfew at 11 pm directed at ordinary citizens (archived link).

A six-point decree from the martial law commander, army chief General Park An-su, swiftly followed Yoon's announcement. It banned political activities and parties, "false propaganda", strikes and "gatherings that incite social unrest" (archived link).

The order also brought all media outlets under the authority of martial law and directed all medical staff, including striking doctors, to return to work within 48 hours.

It did not, however, include a curfew of any kind for ordinary citizens. Instead, it included a clause that said: "Measures will be taken to ensure the daily lives of ordinary citizens, except anti-state forces and subversive forces, will not be disrupted."

Is there content that you would like AFP to fact-check? Get in touch.

E-mail