Broadcaster Jung Hyung-don expressed his frustration over ridiculous rumors and fake news related to his family.
Jung Hyung-don recently stated on a YouTube channel, "I am angry that I have to clarify fake news and that there are people making money off of this kind of thing."
He specifically mentioned a video containing outrageous claims. The short video titled 'Why Jung Hyung-don's Wife Han Yoo-ra is Being Criticized' includes content suggesting that Jung Hyung-don reduced his debt when getting married, lost economic control, and developed mental health issues because of his wife.
Previously, Jung Hyung-don had taken a break from broadcasting due to difficulties with panic disorder. He expressed his outrage, saying, "Are you saying that my wife and children went to study abroad in Hawaii and that I developed mental health issues and stopped broadcasting because of that?" and added, "There are 5449 comments on this fake news."
Celebrities Suffering from Groundless Rumors
Many celebrities, including Jung Hyung-don, suffer from baseless rumors. This is because many people create rumors about celebrities to increase views on social media and make money.
Such rumors not only tarnish the image of celebrities but also negatively impact their mental health. Some celebrities experience insomnia, anxiety disorders, depression, and panic disorders. If people who believe in fake news leave malicious comments, the pain experienced by the individuals involved is beyond imagination.
There is also anxiety about the possibility of false rumors spreading and a decrease in trust in people. If a sense of helplessness builds up, feeling that 'no matter how much I clarify the rumors, it doesn't matter,' it can lower self-esteem. There is also a possibility of leaving psychological trauma. Malicious rumors can have a significant psychological impact.
Quickly Provide Accurate Information… Efforts Needed to Reduce Stress
If you are stressed due to fake news, you need to quickly provide an accurate official stance. Enduring an unfair situation is harmful to mental health. If an official stance has been provided, you should stop worrying about the rumors. According to a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 《Exposure to Social Media Rumors and Stress》, providing quick and reliable information is effective in reducing stress.
Avoid reading comments. If you have clarified the rumors, you should make an effort not to worry about them anymore. Reading comments related to rumors is very harmful to mental health. If the mental pain is too severe, you must consult a specialist for treatment.
If the content of the rumors is serious, you should report it to the police to punish the disseminators. Spreading false rumors in the online space is punished more severely than under criminal law according to the Information and Communications Network Act. According to Article 70 of the Information and Communications Network Act, anyone who damages another person's honor through the information and communications network for the purpose of defamation can be punished with imprisonment for up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.
Lee In-cheol, the representative lawyer of Lee Law Firm, stated, "Recently, false rumors surrounding celebrities have rapidly spread in the form of YouTube videos or online posts, threatening the health of the individuals involved," and added, "The courts are increasingly viewing such actions not merely as 'malicious comments' but as serious crimes, and are trending towards strong punishment."
