"Threatened with a knife," "Gangsters tried to kill me" - 112 emergency calls were urgent but...

Busan Police Declare 'War' on False Reporters, Vowing Strong Response to Police Resource Waste Including Arrests and Summary Trials

Busan Police Agency.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] "I was threatened with a knife and robbed at Busan Station." "Gangsters are trying to kill me with a knife."

Those who urgently called 112 with trembling voices to alert the police were all 'fake.'

The police have declared war on false reports. False reports waste valuable police resources that should be allocated to citizens in genuine emergencies.

On the 24th at 12:41 a.m., the Busan Gijang Police Station announced that they are investigating Mr. A (male, in his 40s) on charges of obstruction of official duties by deception after he made a false report claiming he was robbed on the subway stairs at Busan Station.

Mr. A reported to 112 that he was threatened with a knife and robbed at Busan Station. In response to the emergency, eight police patrol cars and 28 officers were dispatched. Even employees from Busan Transportation Corporation were sent to the scene to conduct a search.

However, mobile phone location tracking revealed the caller was in Gijang-gun, and police who were dispatched back to Gijang arrested Mr. A on the spot for making a false report.

On the 22nd at around 11 p.m., Mr. B (male, in his 50s), who made eight false reports from a motel in Gijang-gun, was also caught and is under investigation.

Mr. B, intoxicated, made false reports claiming "gangsters are threatening me" and "they are trying to kill me with a knife."

When police asked for the caller's location, Mr. B did not provide an accurate location. After dispatching two patrol cars and about ten officers including detectives, the police found Mr. B staying at the motel and referred him for summary judgment.

On January 13, 15 patrol cars were dispatched following a report of people fighting with knives in Busanjin-gu.

Last year, Busan police received a total of 214 false 112 reports. Among them, one person was arrested, 65 were booked without detention, and 141 were subjected to summary judgment.

A police official said, "False reports not only waste police resources but also create dangerous situations where the police cannot respond to other urgent incidents. We plan to strongly punish offenders under charges of obstruction of official duties by deception and violations of the Minor Offenses Act."