혐오표현 규제에 대한 헌법적 이해

Recently, as hate speech came to receive much attention as a social issue of concern in South Korea, the legal regulation of hate speech became a topic of debate. However, in order to discuss the possibilities of legal regulation of certain expression, it is inevitable to first define the concepts that define hate speech. Therefore, this essay starts with presenting concepts that constitute hate speech and categorizes its types. Hate speech is an act of expression that has “target group” and “hostility” as its concepts. First, “target group” refers to a group that meets both qualities of “collective discrimination” and “historicity of discrimination.” Second, the quality of “hostility” of hate speech, does not mean an extreme hate or dislike, but negative bias-based exclusion and its justification about the members of the target group. It demands for elimination, removal or conversion of the members of the target group based on the assumption that the qualities that define the target group is harmful to the society and the country. On the other hand, to better understand the concepts of hate speech, it is worthwhile to attempt to categorize the types of hate speech. In particular, I offer to categorize hate speech into two different types based on object of target and form of expression: “targeted hate speech in form” and “inciting hate speech in substance.” This categorization is meaningful in that it not only enables a better understanding of the concepts of hate speech, but also a differentiated constitutional evaluation. Base on the conception and types of hate speech, regulation on hate speech get a constitutional justification under legally protected interests: a dignity of the members of target group and preventing public sphere from distortion. Hate speech leaves real fear to the target group beyond emotional disgust. By damaging the part of what constitutes their personalities, hate speech harms the target group's dignity. At the same time, hate speech prevents the target group from participating in the public sphere and distorts it by spreading wrong information and bias about the target group. The cruel impact of the latter strategy is strongly shown in the “inciting hate speech in substance.” Nevertheless, it is undeniable that strict criteria and proportionality test must be applied to hate speech regulation as it is a content-based regulation restriction. Especially when it comes to “inciting hate speech in substance”, further strict criteria should be applied. Because it usually appears as a form of political expression, limiting it may result in chilling effect. Therefore, to reduce the risk of regulating political expressions, the basis for regulation must be carefully defined.