"Run If You Want to Live"... Consecutive Bomb Threats at Lotte and The Hyundai Department Stores

Evacuation Chaos at Lotte Department Store Nowon Cinema
No Explosives Found at The Hyundai Seoul and Other Locations

After a series of online bomb threats targeting major department stores in Seoul, including Lotte and The Hyundai, police and fire authorities launched large-scale searches, and some customers were evacuated in emergency situations.

According to Yonhap News on November 9, a post claiming that explosives had been installed at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeongdeungpo District appeared online, prompting about 40 police and fire personnel to conduct a search for approximately 90 minutes. No explosives were found, and the post was deleted. Police are currently tracking down the author of the post.

A similar bomb threat was posted on an online community the previous day, November 8. At around 7:34 p.m., a post titled "Get out of Lotte Department Store in Seoul right now" was uploaded to an online community. The author warned, "I installed five sticks of dynamite on the second floor," and added, "I'm writing this because I want to save you, so just run away." At that time, the department store had already closed for the day, but 100 citizens watching a movie at the cinema in Lotte Department Store Nowon Branch were urgently evacuated outside.

Lotte Department Store Nowon Branch Exterior. Lotte Department Store

Police immediately deployed anti-terror response teams to 10 Lotte Department Store locations in Seoul to check for explosives, but no actual explosives were found. The department store stated, "There are no additional issues, and normal operations will continue without disruption."

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced last month that it plans to file a civil damages claim against a man in his 20s who posted a bomb threat at a department store in August, citing the large-scale waste of public resources.

This man was arrested by police on charges of public intimidation after threatening in an online comment, "Shinsegae will be blown up at 5 p.m. tomorrow." At that time, visitors and employees at the main branch of Shinsegae Department Store were evacuated, and business was suspended while the search was conducted. The total cost, including allowances for personnel, fuel, and labor, was estimated at about 20 million won.

Police are tracking the IP addresses of all individuals who posted threatening messages and are conducting investigations into the alleged crimes. Authorities stated, "Regardless of whether actual explosives are found, we will prioritize the safety of citizens," and added that they will actively consider follow-up measures such as civil damages claims if necessary.