Korean National Police Agency files civil suits in 4 terror threat cases
Police have filed civil lawsuits seeking damages against individuals who posted public terror threats, including a person who wrote that they intended to carry out a knife attack at Dongduk Women's University.
The Korean National Police Agency said Thursday that it filed four civil suits last month seeking compensation for damages, citing a rise in terror threats targeting public facilities that has fueled public anxiety and social disruption. "We are taking this action to sound the alarm against conduct that causes serious social harm," the agency said.
According to police, on Dec. 3 last year, a post appeared on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a news article about Dongduk Women's University. The post included the phrase "ready for school" and a photo of a bag containing a kitchen knife. Police determined the post implied a knife attack and filed a claim for 3.47 million won ($2,590) in damages against the poster.
Police also filed a claim for 1.13 million won against a person who sent a threatening email in January saying they would blow up KT Corp's headquarters.
A separate claim for 20.22 million won was filed against a person who sent bomb threat emails 10 times between Dec. 15 last year and Feb. 16 this year to KT Corp, Kakao, Naver, Samsung Electronics and Toss Bank, among others.
A claim for 1.75 million won was filed against a person who posted threats on Threads last October targeting Hanwha fans, writing that those who attended games should "take responsibility for any misfortune that arises from cheering for Hanwha" and warning that "violence could break out and you could really get hurt, so come if you want."
Since the public terror threat offense was added to the criminal code in March last year, police have pursued both criminal prosecution and civil damages claims, operating damage review committees at each regional police agency.
Earlier, police won a full judgment in a civil suit against a man in his 20s who posted a threat to blow up a Shinsegae department store last August, recovering the full 12 million won in damages, which included the base salaries of officers who responded to the scene.
A Korean National Police Agency official said police would "actively pursue not only criminal punishment but also civil damages claims against those who cause public anxiety and waste police resources through terror threats and false reports, and will respond strictly."
arin@heraldcorp.com
