"False Bomb Threats Drain Taxpayer Money... At Least Several Million Won Wasted Per Incident"

Terror Threats at Shinsegae Main Store on the 5th and Gymnastics Arena on the 10th
Search Costs in August Alone Reach Tens of Millions of Won

It has been revealed that every time a large-scale police force is deployed in response to false terror threat reports, at least several million won of taxpayer money is wasted per incident.

According to the office of Assemblyman Yang Bunam of the Democratic Party of Korea and the National Police Agency on August 31, the government filed three lawsuits against perpetrators of false threats in 2023, seeking compensation ranging from 12 million won to 43.7 million won. These amounts include overtime pay and fuel costs for police officers involved in searches for explosives and other threats. When converted to a per-officer basis, the average cost was found to be 61,600 won per police officer dispatched.

On the 5th, a threat claiming that an explosive device had been planted was posted on an online community, leading to a police response and search at the Shinsegae Department Store main branch in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Even this month alone, the police deployed 98 officers in response to the threat at the Shinsegae Department Store main branch in Jung-gu on the 5th, and 53 officers for the bomb threat at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena on the 10th. The cost of these two deployments was estimated at a minimum of 6 million won and 3.2 million won, respectively. Both incidents ultimately turned out to be false alarms. In addition, considering that nearly 10 faxed threats in the name of a Japanese lawyer were received in August alone, it is estimated that tens of millions of won in taxpayer money was wasted in just one month.

The police stated that the damage goes beyond just financial costs. While officers are deployed to respond to these threats, response to other 112 emergency calls is delayed, and chaos ensues in the surrounding area, causing even greater harm. It is estimated that the Shinsegae Department Store main branch suffered sales losses of 500 million to 600 million won due to the threat. Furthermore, the damage caused by the disruption of students' right to education during evacuations for school bomb threats is difficult to quantify in monetary terms.

Three Civil Suits Against Threat Perpetrators... One Compensation Confirmed

Currently, the Ministry of Justice is pursuing three compensation lawsuits against perpetrators of threats: the 2023 pro volleyball team stabbing threat, the Jeju Airport bomb threat, and the Sillim Station murder threat. Of these, the court recommended full payment of the 12 million won claim for the volleyball team case, and compensation was confirmed last year. The Jeju Airport case, with a claim of approximately 32.5 million won, is still under trial, while the Sillim Station case, with a claim of approximately 43.7 million won, is scheduled for a first trial verdict at the Seoul Central District Court on September 19.

Experts stress the need for more aggressive compensation lawsuits to reduce the severe social waste caused by false threats. The police plan to actively consider arrest investigations for incidents involving the deployment of special forces and other public authority resources. In addition, since half of those posting false threats are in their 20s and 30s, the police intend to implement educational programs targeting young people. On August 25, the police established new guidelines for responding to false threats, deciding to strengthen patrols instead of deploying special forces in cases assessed as "low risk."

Assemblyman Yang emphasized, "In addition to the police response to the series of false threats, it is necessary to establish effective measures to address the anxiety and damage experienced by the public."