SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned through a social media post on Friday that both requesting and carrying out private revenge through third parties constitutes a serious criminal offense. The statement addresses a growing trend of illegal retaliation services coordinated through encrypted messaging platforms.
The direct warning from the president signals an intensified government crackdown on digital-age vigilantism. Lee emphasized that modern states must maintain a monopoly on justice to prevent the breakdown of public order.
"Private revenge proxy is a serious crime for both the person who requests it and the person who receives the request," the president wrote in a post on the social media platform X.
The former human rights lawyer cautioned citizens against engaging in such schemes over minor personal grievances. "Should you ruin your life over something you think is trivial?" he asked.
Lee noted that self-governed retribution has no place in contemporary society. He stated that in a modern civilized country, private disputes must be resolved according to the legal order.
The president shared an excerpt from a security report detailing a suspected proxy revenge crime in the western port city of Incheon. Police are currently investigating the incident, which reportedly took place early Wednesday at an apartment complex.
The report indicates that these crimes have proliferated since the first recorded instance in the southern city of Daegu in August 2025. Criminals typically use the messaging application Telegram to solicit and organize the acts.
South Korean authorities have documented 69 such cases to date. Police have arrested 50 individuals in connection with 60 of the recorded incidents.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
