The social media accounts of the late Seo Hee-won's former mother-in-law, Jang Ran, and her ex-husband, Wang Xiao-pei, have been permanently suspended due to the spread of false information.
According to reports from China's Global Times and local media in Taiwan on the 8th, Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, announced that it has indefinitely suspended the accounts of Jang Ran (67) and Wang Xiao-pei (44) for "defaming the honor of the deceased and the bereaved family."
Douyin stated in an official position that it "violated social norms and moral standards, and will crack down on all types of false information dissemination."
Spread of false information → permanent suspension
On the 5th, Jang Ran spread false information claiming that she used a chartered flight to transport Seo Hee-won's remains from Japan to Taiwan. Additionally, a Chinese influencer spread fake news stating that "Wang Xiao-pei covered the cost of the chartered flight," and Jang Ran endorsed and supported this claim.
In response, Seo Hee-won's biological brother strongly refuted the claims, stating, "We arranged the chartered flight ourselves," dismissing the rumors.
Spreading 'fake news live' until the day she passed away... Chinese netizens express anger
As the controversy escalated, Jang Ran conducted a live broadcast selling products on the 6th. Chinese netizens criticized her strongly, saying, "She is using her deceased daughter-in-law for profit."
Douyin → Weibo also blocks, steps towards online expulsion
Immediately after Douyin's announcement of the indefinite suspension, Weibo, a major social media platform in China, also announced that it would prohibit Jang Ran's live broadcasts. Weibo cited the reason as "spreading malicious rumors that harm the deceased and the bereaved family."
Meanwhile, there is growing interest in whether Jang Ran and Wang Xiao-pei will face additional sanctions, as they have a history of spreading false information, including drug allegations, during Seo Hee-won's lifetime.
[Kim Seung-hye, MK Sports Reporter]
