"I made the statement in the group chat out of anger," he says
A teenage male has been apprehended after posting a message in a social networking service (SNS) group chat threatening to kill President Lee Jaemyung and Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
According to Yonhap News on September 20, the Gimpo Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced that they had detained and are investigating a teenage male, referred to as "A," on charges of making threats after he posted a message threatening to kill President Lee and Representative Jeong. "A" is accused of making threats against President Lee and Representative Jeong by stating in an Instagram group chat with acquaintances, "I will take one of President Lee or Representative Jeong."
After receiving a request for cooperation from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency earlier that morning, Gimpo Police identified "A" at his home in Gimpo and requested that he voluntarily appear for questioning. "A," who appeared at the police station with his parents, reportedly stated during questioning, "I did it out of anger while chatting with acquaintances in the group chat."
The police are working to determine the specific motive behind the crime. Additionally, a police official stated, "The exact time when 'A' posted the message has not yet been confirmed," adding, "We will conduct further investigation to determine whether charges can be applied."
Previously, on August 29, the Dongtan Police Station in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, urgently arrested a man in his twenties, referred to as "B," at his residence in Hwaseong on charges of posting a death threat against Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon. "B" was accused of posting messages in online communities such as the "Police Officer Trainee Gallery" on DC Inside, stating, "I will throw Mayor Oh off the Seobu Expressway and kill him," among other threats.
In cases of threats against specific individuals, the perpetrator cannot be prosecuted if the victim does not wish to press charges. However, recent threats targeting an unspecified number of people, such as mass murder threats or bomb threats, do not fall under crimes requiring the victim's consent for prosecution. The police emphasized that even threats without intent to carry them out can result in punishment, urging individuals to exercise particular caution. In fact, on September 19, a man who had posted a murder threat online in 2023, stating he would kill people at Sillim Station, was ordered to pay 43 million won in damages to the government. This ruling recognized civil liability for posting a false murder threat. The court fully accepted the government's claim for damages, stating that it had incurred human and material losses in preparation for a potential mass murder incident. In lawsuits involving the state, the Ministry of Justice represents the government.
Previously, "B" was also accused of obstruction of official duties by fraud, after posting multiple false messages in an online community on July 26, 2023, five days after the Sillim Station stabbing incident, claiming, "I am standing in front of Exit 2 of Sillim Station holding a knife. I will start killing people now," which resulted in approximately 20 police officers being dispatched to the scene.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
