Rumors of Seoraksan's Balancing Rock Falling Surface Ahead of April Fools' Day

As April 1st, April Fools' Day, approaches, false information claiming that Seoraksan's famous Balancing Rock has fallen is circulating again via social media and online communities. This is a recurring example of April Fools' Day fake news, and netizens are urged to be cautious.

The origin of this rumor dates back to 2001. At the time, someone jokingly spread false information that the Balancing Rock had fallen, causing such chaos that the Seoraksan National Park Office was flooded with calls attempting to verify the truth, paralyzing normal operations. Even 25 years later, the rumor has not disappeared, and every April Fools' Day, it is repackaged as if it were breaking news and spread repeatedly. The Seoraksan Balancing Rock remains in its original place without any issues.

Even if it's an April Fools' Day prank, publicly spreading false information or making prank calls to public institutions can lead to legal penalties. According to Article 137 of the Criminal Act, obstruction of justice by deception can result in imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 10 million won. Prank calls to emergency numbers like 112 or 119 can incur an administrative fine of up to 6 million won. Article 56 of the Fire and Disaster Prevention Act stipulates an administrative fine of up to 2 million won for falsely reporting a fire or rescue situation.

Penalties also apply to the spread of false information via information and communication networks. Repeatedly spreading content that causes fear or anxiety can lead to imprisonment for up to 1 year or a fine of up to 10 million won. If a person's reputation is damaged for the purpose of defamation, penalties can include imprisonment for up to 7 years, suspension of qualifications for up to 10 years, or a fine of up to 50 million won. Interfering with the business of a specific company or individual can also result in imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 15 million won. The National Police Agency enforces a 'one-strike-out policy' for false reports related to bomb threats or violent crimes.