60-Year-Old Who Threatened 'Lee Jae-myung Terror' on 112... Prosecutors Seek 4-Month Prison Sentence

False Report Causes Obstruction of Official Duties

Ahead of the April 10 general election, the prosecution has requested a 4-month prison sentence for Mr. A, a man in his 60s who made threatening phone calls claiming he would harm Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 3rd, Yonhap News reported that at Mr. A's first trial held at the Daegu District Court Seobu Branch, 3rd Criminal Division (Judge Moon Hyun-jung), the prosecution requested a 4-month prison sentence. Mr. A was indicted without detention in January on charges of obstructing official duties by deception, after threatening to harm Lee.

The prosecution cited as grounds for the sentence request that Mr. A made a false report involving political terrorism against a public figure, which caused specific obstruction to police duties.

Daegu District Court Seobu Branch Photo by Yonhap News

Mr. A is accused of calling the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency 112 situation room from a public phone in Duryu-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, at around 4:49 p.m. on January 5, saying, "If Lee Jae-myung comes to Daegu for this general election, I will take action," and then hanging up.

At that time, Lee had been attacked by a man in his 60s while carrying out a local visit schedule in Busan at around 10 a.m. on January 2, three days earlier. Due to this, the police had strengthened personal protection for key figures such as major party leaders.

After Mr. A hung up, the Daegu Police Agency handed over the related information to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency 112 situation room, and about 120 officers were mobilized to analyze CCTV footage around the public phone. About three hours after the investigation began, at around 8 p.m. on the day of the incident, the police urgently arrested Mr. A. According to the police investigation, Mr. A was intoxicated and made the threatening call while returning home.

Earlier, the prosecution also requested an arrest warrant for Mr. A, but the Daegu District Court Seobu Branch dismissed it, stating that "Mr. A has a fixed residence, there is no risk of flight, and considering the secured evidence, there is no concern of evidence tampering."

Meanwhile, at the first trial on the 3rd, Mr. A admitted all the evidence submitted by the prosecution, including statements from surrounding persons. When asked by the judge, "Do you admit to making a false report to the police even though you had no intention to commit the actual crime?" he answered, "Yes." He also said, "I have committed an unforgivable sin. I will reflect on it for the rest of my life."

The sentencing trial for Mr. A will be held on the 29th.