Seoul court rules in favor of police in landmark damages case

Man who posted fake threat ordered to repay 12.56 million won in public funds

Police search the main branch of Shinsegae department store in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, after a post threatening a bombing at the store was reported to authorities on Aug. 5 last year. [Yonhap]
Police search the main branch of Shinsegae department store in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, after a post threatening a bombing at the store was reported to authorities on Aug. 5 last year. [Yonhap]

A man who posted a false bomb threat against Shinsegae department stores has been ordered to repay 12.56 million won ($9,140) in public funds — the full cost of the police response his hoax triggered.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Wednesday that Civil Division 18 of the Seoul Central District Court ruled Friday that a man in his 20s, identified only as A, must compensate the state for the entire cost incurred when police mobilized in response to his online post last year threatening to bomb Shinsegae department stores.

The ruling requires A to cover the law-enforcement expenses wasted on the false alarm. At the time, 277 officers were dispatched to Shinsegae locations across the country, generating costs in labor, overtime pay, meal allowances and fuel for equipment. Police calculated the total at 12.56 million won and filed suit against A, and the court awarded the full amount.

"This is the first case in which economic responsibility has been recognized for a person who caused an unnecessary waste of police resources through a threatening post online," a police official said.

A had posted a comment on a YouTube video on Aug. 6 last year, writing that he would "blow up all Shinsegae department stores." Police traced his online activity and arrested him in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province.

The previous day, a middle school student from Jeju Island, identified as B, had posted on an online community claiming that explosives had been planted on the first floor of Shinsegae's flagship store in Myeong-dong, Seoul, and would detonate at 3 p.m. The post prompted a police response and the evacuation of thousands of customers. Police chose not to file suit against B given that he was a minor.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it would pursue strict punishment for those who make public threats without exception and hold them fully accountable for any resulting damages.


nyang@heraldcorp.com