Agriculture Ministry Eyes Legal Action over Egg Import, Farmland Claims
South Korea’s Agriculture Ministry said Monday it was considering legal action over social media posts about Brazilian egg imports as it stepped up efforts to counter what it described as maliciously distorted information about its policies.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs stated that misleading claims about egg imports and a farmland survey continued to circulate on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and others despite their repeated explanations through statements, interviews, and social media posts.
The ministry indicated it was reviewing possible legal proceedings against three posts deemed particularly serious and malicious. They did not specify the accounts or the legal grounds for the action.
The dispute over Brazilian eggs initially sparked scrutiny from news outlets and lawmakers, who questioned the higher import costs compared to other countries and the use of public funds to offset the gap between import costs and domestic selling prices.
The ministry defended the imports as a limited trial intended to establish a Southern Hemisphere supplier in anticipation of potential disruptions caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Brazilian eggs accounted for only 0.8 percent of total egg imports, the ministry stated. The purchase price was 178 won per egg, including transportation costs and tariffs.
The ministry refuted claims that 80 billion won ($60.2 million) in taxpayer money had covered losses on Brazilian egg imports, as well as allegations of kickbacks and political motives, characterizing them as false.
They also rejected posts portraying the farmland survey as an effort to force land sales and bring farmland under state ownership.
The ministry distinguished parliamentary scrutiny and news reporting from individual social media posts. Lawmakers’ questions are part of their oversight role, while established procedures allow the government to seek corrections or pursue mediation over news reports.
Correcting misinformation on individual accounts is more challenging, the ministry said, adding that platforms rarely accept its removal requests.
It stated that dedicated staff were monitoring misleading posts and planned to set up a reporting center. For serious cases, the ministry said it would seek post removals and review legal action against their publishers.
A ministry spokesperson emphasized that distorted information was undermining public trust and causing confusion, pledging greater transparency and communication.