Republic of Korea: Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Act No. 21305) including content moderation regulation enters into force

On 6 July 2026, the Act on Partial Amendment to the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Act No. 21305) enters into force. The Act expands the scope of prohibited illegal information to include content inciting violence or discrimination based on race, nationality, region, gender, disability, age, or social status. Article 44-7 also prohibits the distribution of false or manipulated information intended to infringe upon personal or property rights. Large-scale service providers are required to establish autonomous operating policies to identify and handle such illegal information. The Act also introduces punitive damages, allowing courts to award compensation up to five times the actual damages if a provider intentionally or negligently distributes false or fabricated information with the intent to cause harm or gain unfair profit. Additionally, providers must publish transparency reports every six months detailing their content moderation activities and outcomes.