[Exclusive] "Someone Threatens Me with a Knife"... False 112 Calls Increase Again in One Year

Recorded 90.6% Punishment Rate Last Year
Korea's Punishment Level Lower Compared to the US and UK

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] False 112 emergency calls have increased again after one year. Due to the mild penalties, false reports are not decreasing.

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to the office of Lee Myungsoo, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, false 112 calls last year totaled 4,153, an increase of 90 from 4,063 in 2020. After recording 4,531 calls immediately following the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, the number had decreased but has risen again. Regarding penalties, about 2,800 cases were fined, and 955 cases were subject to criminal charges. The penalty rate increased from 85.2% in 2019 to 87.0% in 2020, and reached 90.6% last year.

If someone makes a false or prank 112 call, they are subject to a fine, detention, or penalty not exceeding 600,000 KRW under the Minor Offenses Act. Habitual and malicious false reporters can be punished with imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine not exceeding 10 million KRW for obstruction of official duties by deception. Compared to other countries, the level of punishment is relatively low. In the United States, false or prank calls can result in imprisonment from 1 to 3 years or fines up to 30 million KRW. In the United Kingdom, false or prank calls are punishable by imprisonment of up to 6 months or fines up to 9 million KRW, and the government may file a civil lawsuit for damages against false reporters.

Arrested on Charges of Obstruction of Official Duties for 'Calling 112 While Drunk'... Police Say "Difficult to Prove Incident Plausibility"

Due to such mild penalties, many people repeatedly make false reports. A 112 situation room chief working at a frontline police station in Seoul said, "Last month, we responded to a report that someone was trying to kill me with a knife, but it was a false report," adding, "The caller said they needed someone to talk to and called the police. If a major incident had occurred elsewhere at the same time, it would have been truly alarming." In fact, on the 21st of last month, a man in his 50s, Mr. B, was arrested on charges of obstruction of official duties after threatening responding police officers with a kitchen knife following a false report made while intoxicated.

Legislative Research Officer Heo Minsook said, "Because there is little fear of punishment for false reports, some people repeatedly make false calls," adding, "In cases of simple curiosity or mistakes, it is necessary to carefully distinguish whether there is an intentional purpose to obstruct investigative agencies." She also noted, "However, it is important to consider that the willingness to report emergencies might significantly decrease."

Meanwhile, those in the field say it is difficult to determine whether a report is false. A police official stated, "We objectively judge false reports based on evidence and the situation at the scene," adding, "If the plausibility of the incident is evident, it is difficult to consider it a false report."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.