"Gasoline Attack Threat at BTS Gwanghwamun Concert" Police to File for Damages

Seeking Financial Compensation in Addition to Criminal Sanctions

The police will file damage claims in civil court against those responsible for false public threats, such as the terror threat made against the BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan) concert in Gwanghwamun. The decision is based on the assessment that these threats have caused widespread public anxiety and social disruption.

On June 15, the National Police Agency announced that it will file civil lawsuits for damages against suspects in three cases: the BTS Gwanghwamun concert terror threat, the false bomb threats at Kakao premises and major train stations, and the bomb threat targeting the presidential residence. Since December of last year, each provincial police agency has been operating a Damage Review Committee. This effort is aimed at strengthening criminal sanctions and imposing tangible disadvantages by seeking financial compensation through civil litigation.

Seodaemun-gu Police Station, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

The police plan to file a damage claim of 2.28 million won against a man in his 50s who posted an online message threatening to throw a gasoline-filled water bottle at the BTS Gwanghwamun concert. In addition, individuals who sent false emails claiming to have planted bombs in Kakao and KT buildings, or made 119 emergency calls threatening to bomb Gangnam Station, Busan Station, and Cheonan Asan Station over a three-month period from December last year to February this year, will face a claim of 31.91 million won. Another individual who posted a false threat online in December last year, stating an intention to bomb the Presidential Office, Blue House, presidential residence, and apartment complexes, will be subject to a claim of 1.21 million won.

The police have previously filed substantial damage claims against perpetrators of false public threat crimes.

One suspect threatened to bomb multiple schools, including Incheon Daein High School, Gyeonggi Chowol High School, Gwangju Geumdang Middle School, and Chungnam Yonghwa High School, by posting terror threats on online communities and calling the 119 emergency center a total of 13 times. The police filed a damage claim of 71.64 million won for these actions. Another suspect who posted a threat on Instagram to bomb Seoul Wolgye High School with a homemade bomb faced a claim of 3.6 million won.

The police explained that these actions are a follow-up to previous civil lawsuits for damages filed against the individual who posted a bomb threat against Shinsegae Department Store and the person who announced a murder plan targeting Yatap Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, last year.

An official from the National Police Agency stated, "Going forward, we will proactively operate the Damage Review Committee to prevent gaps in public safety caused by wasted law enforcement resources and to prevent social chaos and public anxiety."

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