By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter

A Seoul court on Thursday fined a college student 1.5 million won for producing and spreading parodies through the Internet that aimed to defame certain candidates ahead of the April 15 general elections.

It is the first time in South Korea that a citizen has been punished for producing parody works on the Internet.

The 26-year-old student, identified by the surname Shin, was accused of creating and posting some 20 parody photos on the Internet that were considered unfair for some candidates from the Grand National Party.

``Shin deserves punishment because he tried to influence the elections through his parody works, although he contended he wanted to draw public participation into politics,’’ the Seoul Central District Court said in the ruling. Shin said he would appeal.

The ruling came amid a deepening controversy over the digitally-altered images of President Roh Moo-hyun and Grand National Party (GNP) leader Park Geun-hye that satirized their political ambitions and policies in a rude and obscene manner. Politicians, who often become the subject of political parodies, wanted to draw a clear line between the freedom of expression and the parodied works that they view go too far.

``Everyone has the right to express their opinions by creating works, including parody works, but Shin’s work passed a limit and tried to influence politics with the works for a certain party,’’ the ruling said.

Shin argued the judges only took the election laws into account without considering the freedom of expression ensured in the Constitution.

On Tuesday, Chong Wa Dae officials were up in arms after they found parody photos illustrating President Roh as the confessed serial killer Yoo Young-chul were circulating in the virtual world, insinuating he made the citizens’ lives difficult and drove people to suicide due to economic hardships.

In other photos, Roh’s fight with large newspapers, and his plan to move the administrative capital were sarcastically criticized.

Last week, a controversial parody photo sexually insulting GNP leader Park was posted on the presidential office’s Web site, causing an uproar from GNP lawmakers. On Friday, two Chong Wa Dae officials were relieved of their posts regarding the matter.

Some argue freedom of expression can’t be an excuse for political parody that often annoys the people involved with rude and extreme expression, especially when some politically-important events, such as elections are just ahead.

``Making parody is one thing and using it for political propaganda is another,’’ an official of the National Election Commission told The Korea Times. ``The government is needed to strictly deal with those producing parody as a means to sway voters in elections and making political decisions. Such acts are obviously not condonable.

Still, critics say every South Korean citizen has the right to express his political opinion, and the parody should be seen as their efforts to participate in politics.

``Even during the Chosun Kingdom (1392-1910), high-class people enjoyed the mass culture, such as `talchum (mask dance)’ that harshly criticized aristocrats and tried to learn from it,’’ a man said in a message posted on the Internet. ``Even hundreds of years ago, politicians tried to read the minds of people by enjoying such culture. However in these times, it seems there are many more limits in expressing opinions.’’

Park Joon-woo, an official of the Citizen’s Action Network, said politicians need to be more flexible toward the expressions on the Internet.

``Politicians have reacted sensitively to the parody works. But where does the limit lie between defamation and the free expression of political opinions?’’ Park asked. ``Parody is a new culture and new trend in South Korea, where the Internet is becoming a key tool of communication.’’

jj@koreatimes.co.kr