South Korea
From late May 2025, many users in Korea reported Instagram, Facebook and Threads suspensions, mostly citing child sexual exploitation and abuse or community integrity rules. The Korea Communications Commission (since October 2025, the Media and Communications Commission) asked Meta for a written explanation in 2025 and opened a formal fact-finding investigation in February 2026, including whether paid Meta Verified subscribers received the support they were promised. Since 12 February 2026, large value-added telecommunications providers must take and handle user requests in Korean, online and by automated phone (ARS), in real time during business hours.
As of 2026-10-26
Know this first
- The real-time Korean-language duty (Telecommunications Business Act Art. 22-7; Enforcement Decree Art. 30-8) applies only to value-added telecommunications providers that, over the last three months of the previous year, averaged at least 1 million domestic users a day and at least 1% of domestic traffic. Requests not handled in real time must be handled within three business days, or the user must be told the reason and a schedule.
- The Telecommunications Dispute Mediation Committee under Telecommunications Business Act Art. 45-2 mediates disputes between telecommunications business operators and users, including services provided differently from the terms and disputes over concluding, using or terminating a service contract. Ask the committee whether it can take a case about an account suspension.
- Under the Personal Information Protection Act (Art. 37-2), people can ask for an explanation of a fully automated decision (including one made with AI) and can refuse one that significantly affects their rights or obligations, except where it is based on consent, law or the performance of a contract. Whether an account suspension counts as such a decision is a matter of interpretation.
Regulators and public bodies
kukinews.com
After an inspection of the May–June 2025 mass suspensions found signs of legal violations, the Media and Communications Commission began a formal fact-finding investigation under the Telecommunications Business Act. It covers whether ordinary accounts unrelated to youth protection were permanently suspended without a specific reason and whether paid ‘blue badge’ (Meta Verified) subscribers received the faster, enhanced support they had been promised; the Commission said fines or corrective orders could follow if violations are confirmed.
Reporting
mobile.newsis.com
From late May 2025, users in Korea reported Instagram, Facebook and Threads suspensions, mostly for alleged child sexual exploitation and abuse or community integrity violations. According to the report, Meta said it was looking into the matter and could not yet explain the cause.
Meta faces backlash in South Korea over mysterious account bans (opens in a new tab)
koreaherald.com
At a National Assembly meeting, Meta Korea’s director of public policy apologised for the frustration users had experienced and said he would ask headquarters for an urgent review, and Meta promised to open a customer service centre in Korea by February 2026. The Korea Communications Commission (now the Media and Communications Commission) formally asked Meta for a written explanation.
Please note
This page collects public material as general information. It is not legal advice. Bodies and procedures change, so check the original link before you apply.
For step-by-step official procedures, see the recovery guide.