Gyeongbokgung Graffiti Suspect 'Team Leader Lee' Flees During Investigation... Caught After 2 Hours

Police Mobilize Available Personnel for Search
Apprehended Hiding in Nearby Church

A (30), who was arrested for instructing a teenage minor to graffiti the walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace, escaped during police interrogation but was apprehended 1 hour and 50 minutes later.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 28th, A escaped around 1:50 PM while being questioned at the Cyber Investigation Division of the Seoul Police Agency. The police mobilized available personnel and, after a search, captured A hiding in a nearby church at 3:40 PM, 1 hour and 50 minutes later.

Mr. A (30), who was made to graffiti on the wall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 25th for a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A is accused of instructing B via Telegram last December to graffiti a 30-meter-long phrase saying "Free Movie WillOOtv.com feat Nunu" on the walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Palace Museum, and the east gate wall of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, violating the Cultural Heritage Protection Act.

It is reported that A gave instructions while changing his account names to "Team Leader Lee" and "Manager Kim," among others.

Additionally, A is also charged with operating a pornography distribution site and posting child sexual exploitation material, violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (distribution of obscene materials) and the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles Against Sexual Abuse (distribution of sexual exploitation materials).

Earlier, the court issued an arrest warrant against A on the 25th, citing concerns over evidence destruction and flight risk.