Multiple False Bomb Threats Made with SIM-less Phone... "Damage Claim Under Review"

Police: "Strict Response to Obstruction of Official Duties... Considering Claims for Damages"

At the integrated security training involving government, military, police, and fire departments held at the Government Seoul Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, exercises are being conducted for suppressing illegal drones and handling explosives. This is unrelated to the main article.

A man in his 30s was apprehended by police after reporting to emergency services that he had planted bombs in multiple public facilities in Busan, including libraries, hospitals, and swimming pools, using a mobile phone without a SIM card.

On August 14, the Sasang Police Station in Busan announced that they had arrested and are investigating a man in his 30s, identified as A, on charges including obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.

According to the police, in December of last year, A reported to emergency services that he would detonate a bomb at a library in Sasang-gu, Busan. In July of this year, he reported that he had planted a bomb at Baek Hospital in Busan. At the time, police deployed about 80 personnel to conduct a search, but no explosives were found.

On July 7 of this year, A again reported to emergency services that he had planted a bomb at a swimming pool in Hadan, Busan. Although the Hadan swimming pool did not actually exist, approximately 100 visitors at a nearby sports center for people with disabilities were evacuated.

Police investigations revealed that all three false reports were made using a mobile phone without a SIM card. After conducting a telecommunications investigation, police arrested A on August 13. It was found that A repeatedly made false reports to emergency services using a SIM-less mobile phone he had acquired by chance. He exploited the fact that emergency calls can be made even without a SIM card.

The police are currently investigating A's motive and any additional crimes, while also considering filing a claim for damages in relation to the obstruction of official duties charge.

Making a false report to emergency services is considered obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means and is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won. In addition, as of March, the crime of public intimidation, which involves threatening to harm the life or physical safety of an unspecified number of people, is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.