"Threats of Murder Hiding Behind Anonymity, Something That Should Never Happen"
A man in his 30s who posted murder threat comments related to Professor Seokyeongdeok of Sungshin Women's University was apprehended by the police.
On the 3rd, the Cyber Investigation Unit of Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they had booked a 30-year-old Korean national, Mr. A, without detention on charges of threats. Mr. A is suspected of leaving a comment threatening to kill Professor Seo on a portal internet article about Dokdo at 12:25 PM on the 20th of last month.
The article contained information that a social networking service (SNS) account impersonating Professor Seo was promoting Takeshima (the name Japan claims for Dokdo) and the Rising Sun Flag. Mr. A left a comment on this article saying, "I will kill you today," and the investigation began after a netizen reported it.
Mr. A admitted to his crime during the police investigation, and it was found that he had no particular grudge against Professor Seo. The specific motive for Mr. A's crime has not been disclosed. The police identified the suspect through internet protocol (IP) tracking and arrested Mr. A on the 26th of last month.
Regarding this, Professor Seo stated on his Facebook, "Thanks to many netizens who worried and supported me, the case was resolved well." He added, "I was interviewed as a victim last week, and I actually saw the post the suspect left on the portal comment section. Honestly, it was chilling," and emphasized, "I could only think about how someone could post such a comment. Hiding behind anonymity to make such murder threats to someone is something that should never happen."
Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, Professor Seo had revealed his victimization on Facebook. He said, "Around midnight on the 20th, the doorbell rang, and when I opened the front door, three police officers visited to check on my safety." He continued, "Until now, I have received murder threats via email from some Japanese right-wing extremists and Chinese netizens obsessed with Sinocentrism, but seeing such comments openly posted on a domestic portal's comment section was quite a shock."
Meanwhile, a police official said, "Mr. A did not disclose a specific motive for the crime, but it appears he had no actual intent to harm Professor Seo," and added, "He was recently sent to the prosecution without detention."
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