Police to pursue both criminal charges and civil damages in public-threat cases
By Kim A-rin, The Herald Business
Police plan to seek civil damages from a man who posted online threats to throw gasoline at a BTS concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul in March.
The Korean National Police Agency said Monday it would file a 2.28 million won ($1,500) civil damages suit against a man in his 50s, identified only as A, who posted messages saying he intended to fill a water bottle with gasoline and hurl it at the concert.
A was indicted in April on charges of repeatedly posting threatening messages and was sentenced to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years.
Police also plan to pursue a 1.21 million won civil damages suit against a person who posted threats in December last year to blow up the presidential residence, Cheong Wa Dae and an apartment complex in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province.
Separate civil claims totaling 31.91 million won are planned against individuals who, starting in December last year, repeatedly sent false emails to Kakao and KT Corp claiming bombs had been planted and called the 119 emergency center threatening to blow up Gangnam Station, Busan Station and other locations.
Police said they are pursuing both criminal punishment and civil damages against those who post bomb threats and similar online intimidation in order to recover the social costs imposed by such public threats.
"Police will continue to actively pursue civil damages to prevent security gaps caused by the waste of public resources and to protect citizens from fear," a Korean National Police Agency official said.
arin@heraldcorp.com
