A YouTuber is broadcasting live on YouTube with a so-called ‘Julie mural’ in front of a second-hand bookstore in Jongno-gu, Seoul at 9 am on the 3rd. Intern reporter Yang Soo-min
“What kind of freedom of expression do building owners want?”
At 9 a.m. on the 3rd, near a second-hand bookstore in Gwancheol-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Goseong started coming and going from early morning. In front of the so-called ‘Julie mural’ that slanders Kim Gun-hee, wife of former Attorney General Yoon Seok-yeol. When a YouTuber talked about freedom of expression in front of a bookstore employee preparing to start business, the employee countered, saying, “Isn’t the banner written asking you to preserve the mural?”
Police investigation into Julie mural begins in earnest
A painting called ‘Julie’s Men’ (a mural slandering Kim Gun-hee, wife of former Attorney General Yoon Seok-yeol) is being painted on the outside wall of a bookstore in Jongno-gu, Seoul, causing controversy. Some conservative groups painted black paint and left graffiti slandering passport holders. news
The police investigation is expected to begin in earnest on the mural, which continues to be controversial with pictures and phrases that slander Kim, the wife of former President Yoon. Following the accusation of defamation charges by a civic group on the 1st, the bookstore representative Jo Jung-won (58), who had previously commissioned the mural, was also reported as property damage to the YouTuber who painted the mural in black. . All those accused of making the mural and damaging it are now in a position to be investigated by the police.
On the afternoon of the 31st of last month, a conservative YouTuber appeared with a cart full of black paint buckets and started painting the walls with black paint using a paint roller. The phrase ‘Julie’s Men’ and a picture of the woman’s face painted next to it were covered with paint. At that time, the police were dispatched to a report from a bookstore employee, and there was a hiatus between the YouTuber, the bookstore employee, and the police for a while.
The YouTuber, who was reported to the police for property damage at the time, is currently under investigation by the police. A police official said, “After receiving the report, the police dispatched to the scene confirmed the identity of the YouTuber who was painted black. will proceed,” he said.
Bookstore owners are more likely to avoid punishment, why?
While interest is focused on whether the bookstore representative who created the mural and the YouTuber who damaged it will be punished, the legal community predicts that the ‘anti-indictment crime’ will decide their fate. This is because defamation is a crime of non-intentional punishment that cannot be prosecuted unless the victim does not want punishment, but it is not a crime of property damage.
Regarding the allegation of defamation, Jang Young-soo, a professor at Korea University’s Law School, said, “In light of the location and content of the mural, the charge itself is established because it meets the elements of the crime of defamation.” It can’t actually lead to punishment unless you want it to be punished,” he said.
Not a crime of anti-intentional punishment, but property damage, disadvantaged by YouTubers
At 10 a.m. on the 3rd, the bookstore that produced the so-called ‘Julie mural’ posted a notice on the mural covered with white paint saying, “Freedom of expression is allowed except for insults and slander.” Intern reporter Yang Soo-min
On the other hand, the situation is different for YouTubers who can be charged with property damage. Lawyer Woo Hee-chang (Law Law Department People) said, “From the perspective of a YouTuber who was reported, the mural contains defamatory or insulting content, so he can claim his actions as a legitimate act or an emergency evacuation. As the side said that freedom of expression is okay, the act of a third party cannot be viewed as self-defense, so the crime of property damage is established.”
According to Article 366 (Damage of Property) of the Criminal Act, a person who intentionally damages another person’s property or impairs the utility thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three years or by a fine not exceeding seven million won. Earlier, the owner of the bookstore, Yeo, said in a phone call with JoongAng Ilbo, “I am thinking of withdrawing the report as the social impact surrounding the mural is large.”
Another satire on the missing Julie mural
A passing citizen is writing on the so-called ‘Julie mural’, which was covered with white paint on the 3rd and disappeared. Intern reporter Yang Soo-min
Since the end of last month, the paintings and phrases on the mural, which have been at the center of controversy over defamation and freedom of expression, have all disappeared on the 3rd. Part of the mural was damaged with black paint, so the bookstore painted the entire Julie mural the day before with white paint.
On the same day, the bookstore posted a notice on one side of the white mural saying, “It is a wall that allows freedom of expression, but please refrain from using offensive slurs or abusive language. The mural reads, “Isn’t it Hong Gil-dong (Julie) when I say Hong Gil-dong (Julie) isn’t Hong Gil-dong (Julie)?” New words such as “Korea is a country with President Moon Jae-in” were added.
Reporter Lee Ga-ram and Intern Reporter Yang Su-min lee.garam1@joongang.co.kr
