1000 Deliveries Nationwide in One Day
1700 People Evacuated in Commotion at Myeongdong Central Post Office
It has been confirmed that on the 21st alone, there were 1,000 reports nationwide of suspicious mail parcels from overseas that recipients did not order.
According to the police on the 22nd, a total of 987 emergency calls (112 reports) were received nationwide on the 21st regarding suspicious packages shipped from Taiwan and other locations. Similar reports of such parcels being delivered continue to come in across the country, so the number of reports is expected to increase further.
The parcels were found to contain inexpensive items such as lip balm randomly included, or were sometimes empty. The police plan to decide whether to launch an investigation based on the results of component analysis by relevant authorities; however, no toxic or harmful substances have yet been detected in the parcels, so the possibility of terrorism appears low.
The police are also considering the possibility of a so-called “brushing scam,” in which sellers send unordered items to random recipients to manipulate online shopping mall sales records and ratings.
Earlier, on the 20th, a parcel suspected of containing gaseous poison was delivered to a welfare facility for the disabled in Ulsan. Three people who opened the parcel complained of dizziness and were transported to a hospital. After being admitted to isolation wards, their symptoms have improved and they are currently in good health.
Subsequent related reports were received from Jeju, Daejeon, Seoul, Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province, and Haman County in South Gyeongsang Province, prompting police investigations. On the 21st, a similar parcel was found at Myeongdong Central Post Office, causing a commotion as about 1,700 people inside the building were evacuated.
The police urge that if anyone finds a parcel in a yellow or black envelope marked with “CHUNGHWA POST” and the sender address “P.O.Box 100561-003777, Taipei Taiwan,” they should not open it and immediately report it to the nearest police station or call 112.
Meanwhile, the Taiwan Representative Office in Korea stated, “The investigation revealed that the parcel was originally sent from China, passed through Taiwan as an intermediate stop, and finally arrived in Korea.”
On the 21st, the Representative Office announced on its website, “The Representative Office in Korea immediately notified our Ministry of Finance’s Customs Administration (財政部關務署, Taiwan’s customs authority) to conduct an investigation.”
The office explained, “The investigation results and related materials were promptly shared with the Korean police and relevant agencies, and currently, the related departments of both countries are maintaining close communication and cooperation.”
They added, “Most media outlets in Korea are giving significant coverage to this incident and are urging special caution regarding suspicious parcels sent from Taiwan. Local governments are also requesting citizens not to open parcels originating from Taiwan and Taipei.”
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