700 Police Dispatched... Update on Those Who Posted "I Will Kill People" [News SeolCham]

③How Much Punishment Did the Murder Threat Poster Receive?
Probation Due to 'First Offense'... Cases of Acquittal
No Casualties but Police Resources Wasted on Up to 700 People
Ministry of Justice Files Compensation Lawsuit... Public Threat Crime Pending in National Assembly

Knife rampage incidents that terrify Korean society. Chosun (34), who wielded a knife at strangers in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, causing 4 casualties, and Choi Won-jong (23), who carried out a indiscriminate knife rampage at Seohyeon Station in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province, causing 14 casualties, were sentenced to life imprisonment. This is effectively the harshest sentence that can be imposed in South Korea, a country that has effectively abolished the death penalty. When knife rampage incidents occur, false posts hinting at similar incidents spread like a trend, plunging citizens into fear. According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, among 189 people sent to prosecution from August to December last year on charges including attempted murder, obstruction of official duties by deception, and threats, a total of 32 were tried in custody. Did those who posted murder threats receive appropriate punishment?

◆ Light punishments ending with suspended sentences…Wasting large-scale police and fire resources

A man in his 30s, Mr. A, who impersonated a police officer and posted a knife rampage threat on the anonymous workplace community 'Blind,' was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence in the first trial last December. Although he was an ordinary office worker with no history of working as a police officer, he purchased a fake police account using a false email address and posted a murder threat saying, "Tonight at Exit 1 of Gangnam Station, there will be a stabbing. Everyone be careful. I will kill everyone."

The first trial court pointed out that "Mr. A purchased a community account certified by the National Police Agency and posted a murder threat without any sense of guilt, which is a serious offense," adding, "As a result, there was a huge waste of public authority, and many citizens likely felt considerable anxiety and inconvenience." The court further explained the sentencing by considering "that the defendant admitted the crime and showed remorse, and deleted the post about three minutes after posting, indicating no actual intent to commit murder."

Mr. B, in his 40s, who posted a message threatening to kill 10 women on Rodeo Street in Bupyeong, Incheon, also received a suspended prison sentence in the first trial. He was charged with posting on the online community 'Bobae Dream' around 9:50 a.m. on August 5 last year, stating, "Tonight at 10 p.m. on Bupyeong Rodeo Street, I will kill 10 women." The court judged, "The defendant posted a murder threat on an online community without guilt to attract attention, which is a serious offense," and "His crime caused a large-scale police dispatch, resulting in a significant waste of public authority." However, the court also considered "the defendant's admission and remorse" and "the lack of actual intent to carry out the murder."

Mr. C, in his 30s, who stated that he was "lonely and wanted attention" and "wanted to test how quickly the police would respond," was sentenced to one year in prison. He was charged with making a false report to 112 around 9 p.m. on August 8 last year, five days after the Bundang Seohyeon Station knife rampage, falsely claiming, "I will kill someone at Cheongnyangni Station." Mr. C had a history of two prior punishments for false reports to the police under the Minor Offenses Act.

There were no casualties in these three false cases. However, dozens of public authorities had to be mobilized at the scenes where murder threats were posted. Near Gangnam Station, mentioned by Mr. A, 99 police officers were dispatched; at Bupyeong Rodeo Street, pointed out by Mr. B, 86 police officers were dispatched; and near Cheongnyangni Station, mentioned by Mr. C, 59 police and fire personnel were mobilized. The prosecution has appealed the first trial results of these three individuals.

There are also cases where defendants were acquitted. Wang Mo, a Chinese national, was prosecuted for posting on Danggeun Market in the early morning of August 4, 2023, a message saying, "I will carry out a knife rampage at Hyehwa Station, so those who see this post should avoid it," which he deleted after 8 seconds. However, in the first trial in December of the same year, he was acquitted of the charge of posting a murder threat (threat), and the court found him guilty only of residing in the country without proper qualification, sentencing him to six months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence.

◆ Even with up to 700 police dispatched, compensation claims are 'minimal'… Public threat crime bill pending in the National Assembly

The Ministry of Justice also files civil lawsuits for damages separately from criminal punishment. This is because such acts cause social unrest and lead to a waste of public security administrative resources due to the deployment of large-scale public authority. For example, due to a man in his 30s, Mr. D, who repeatedly posted online threats of bomb terrorism and knife rampages at airports, 571 police officers and riot police were urgently deployed at Incheon, Gimpo, Jeju, Gimhae, and Daegu airports. Additionally, due to a man in his 20s, Mr. E, who posted a message threatening a knife rampage near a professional volleyball team's accommodation, 186 police officers were dispatched, and the volleyball players could not carry out their schedules. Currently, the Ministry of Justice has filed damage claims of approximately 32 million won and 12 million won against Mr. D and Mr. E, respectively.

In the 'Sillim Station knife stabbing threat post' case, which involved a total of 703 police officers, a damage claim lawsuit of about 43 million won was filed. The man in his 20s, Mr. F, who posted on DC Inside, "I will kill 20 women at Sillim Station," along with a photo of a purchase receipt for a kitchen knife, was indicted on charges of attempted murder and threats, and was sentenced in the first trial last November to eight months in prison with a two-year suspended sentence.

However, there are criticisms that it is difficult to claim damages for police deployment costs related to murder threat posts. European countries such as Germany and France have police cost laws that allow charging for police deployment expenses, but South Korea has no such legislation. Under current law, charges such as ▲attempted murder (up to 10 years imprisonment), ▲threat (up to 5 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million won), and ▲obstruction of official duties by deception (up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to 5 million won) can be applied, but in specific cases, punishment can be difficult. To impose the heaviest sentence under attempted murder charges, conditions are strict, requiring not only posting a murder threat but also specifying a concrete target, preparing a weapon, scouting locations, and other acts aimed at actually committing murder.

There are also calls for the establishment of a public threat crime to enhance crime prevention effects. This would punish those who threaten or impersonate threats to harm people's lives or bodies and intimidate the public. However, the criminal law amendment bill proposed in August last year is currently pending in the first subcommittee of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee.