(1) No one may circulate any of the following information through an information and communications network: <Amended on Sep. 15, 2011; Mar. 22, 2016; Jun. 12, 2018; Jan. 21, 2025>
1. Information with obscene content distributed, sold, rented, or displayed openly in the form of code, words, sound, images, or motion picture;
2. Information with content that defames other persons by divulging a fact or false information, openly and with intent to disparage the person's reputation;
3. Information with content that arouses fear or apprehension by reaching other persons repeatedly in the form of code, words, sound, image, or motion picture;
4. Information with content that damages, destroys, alters, or forges an information and communications system, data, a program, or similar or that interferes with the operation of such system, data, program, or similar without good cause;
5. Information with content that amounts to a media product harmful to youths under the Youth Protection Act and that is provided for profit without fulfilling the duties and obligations under the relevant statutes and regulations, including the duty to verify the subject's age and the duty of labeling;
6. Information with content that amounts to speculative activities prohibited by statutes and regulations;6-2. Information with content of transactions of personal information in violation of this Act or any other statute or regulation regarding the protection of personal information;6-3. Information regarding methods, drawings, etc. for manufacturing guns or explosives (including things with a yield that may expose people to risk of life or bodily injury);6-4. Information with content of the use, manufacture, sale, or mediation of the sale of narcotics prohibited by the Narcotic Drugs Control Act;
7. Information with content that divulges a State secret, including secrets classified under statutes and regulations;
8. Information with content that violates the National Security Act;
9. Other information with content that attempts to commit, aids, or abets a crime.
(2) The Korea Media and Communications Commission may order a provider of information and communications services or a manager or an operator of a message board to reject, suspend, or restrict management of information under paragraph (1) 1 through 6, 6-2 through 6-4, subject to deliberation by the Communications Standards Commission; provided, if the information falls under paragraph (1) 2 or 3, the Commission shall not issue an order to reject, suspend, or restrict such management against the intention specifically manifested by the victim of the relevant information. <Amended on Mar. 22, 2016; Jun. 12, 2018; Jan. 21, 2025; Oct. 1, 2025>
(3) The Korea Media and Communications Commission shall order a provider of information and communications services or a manager or an operator of a message board to reject, suspend, or restrict management of information under paragraph (1) 7 through 9, if the information falls under all of the following: <Amended on Mar. 22, 2016; Dec. 24, 2018; Dec. 3, 2024; Oct. 1, 2025>
1. A request shall have been made by the head of the relevant central administrative agency [including requests from the head of an investigative agency for photographs and videos, compilations, composites, processed products, or their duplicates (including duplicates of duplicates) under Articles 14 and 14-2 of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, and for child or youth sexual exploitation materials under subparagraph 5 of Article 2 of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth against Sex Offenses];
2. A demand for correction was made pursuant to subparagraph 4 of Article 22 of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Korea Media and Communications Commission after deliberation by the Communications Standards Commission within 7 days from the date the request under subparagraph 1 had been received;
3. The provider of information and communications services or the manager or operator of the message board has not complied with the demand for correction.
(4) The Korea Media and Communications Commission shall provide an opportunity to the provider of information and communications services or the manager, operator, or relevant user of the message board to whom an order is to be issued pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) to present his or her opinion in advance; provided, the Commission need not provide an opportunity to present an opinion in any of the following cases: <Amended on Oct. 1, 2025>
1. Where it is necessary to make an urgent disposition for public safety or welfare;
2. Where there is a ground prescribed by Presidential Decree to believe that it is obviously impracticable or evidently unnecessary to hear an opinion;
3. Where a person concerned clearly manifests his or her intent to give up the opportunity to present his or her opinion.
(5) An information and communication service provider that installs and operates a domestic server for temporary storage of data and meets the criteria prescribed by the Presidential Decree for the type and scale of business shall take the following technical and administrative measures to prevent the distribution of information falling under the subparagraphs of paragraph (1): <Added on Jan. 23, 2024>
1. Measures to identify whether the information described in each of the subparagraphs of paragraph (1) is stored on the server and to promptly restrict access to it, subject to deliberation by the Communications Standards Commission in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3;
2. Measures to request the person who posted the information identified under subparagraph 1 to prohibit the distribution of the relevant information;
3. Measures to have the actual status of the operation and management of the measures under subparagraph 1 recorded automatically in the system, and to keep it for the period prescribed by Presidential Decree;
4. Other measures prescribed by Presidential Decree as necessary to prevent the distribution of information falling under the subparagraphs of paragraph (1).[This Article Wholly Amended on Jun. 13, 2008]Articles 44-8 (Protection of children in interactive information and communications services) When a provider of information and communications services provides children under 14 years of age with information and communications services based on a system that processes information by engaging in a conversation with a human user through text messages or voice chat, it shall endeavor not to provide information containing inappropriate content to such children.[This Article Added on Dec. 24, 2018]