High School Student Who Repeatedly Posted Threats Saying "I Planted Explosives"... Police Seek Damages of Around 70 Million Won

Total of 13 Explosive Threat Messages
Includes Dispatch Allowances, Fuel Costs, and More
Largest Claim Since Public Intimidation Law Was Enacted

The police are seeking damages of around 70 million won from a teenager who repeatedly posted threatening messages claiming that he had planted explosives at his own high school.

Fire authorities dispatched to Daein High School last year. Yonhap News Agency, reader-submitted.

According to Yonhap News Agency on February 9, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency plans to file a lawsuit seeking 75.44 million won in damages against high school student A, who has been indicted and detained on charges of public intimidation and obstruction of the performance of official duties by fraudulent means.

The police had previously announced their plan to sue, stating that administrative resources were wasted because officers had to be dispatched to the school to conduct searches and to strengthen patrols in the surrounding area as a result of A's crimes.

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency convened a damages review committee on January 30 and set the amount of the lawsuit. The National Police Agency headquarters is said to have recently approved the litigation plan.

In calculating the amount of damages, the police included 112 dispatch allowances, overtime pay, travel expenses, and fuel costs for mobilized vehicles. This damages claim is reported to be the largest since the crime of public intimidation was newly established in March last year.

A was indicted on charges of posting seven messages between October 13 and 21 last year to the 119 Emergency Reporting Center, claiming that he had planted or was going to plant explosives at Daein High School in Seo-gu, Incheon, where he was enrolled.

He is also believed to have posted threatening messages in online communities in September and October last year, claiming that explosives had been planted at middle and high schools or railway stations in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, and Asan, South Chungcheong Province. It was found that, in the course of the crimes, he sometimes used someone else's identity to post the threats. Prosecutors identified a total of 13 explosive threat messages linked to A during their investigation.

As a result of the crimes committed by A and others, a total of 633 personnel were deployed to the scenes for 63 hours and 51 minutes, including 379 police officers, 232 firefighters, and 9 military personnel.

At the first hearing held on February 5 before Judge Jeong Jemin of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 9, A's attorney stated, "Aside from some acts he committed alone, he did not participate in the actions of his accomplices." The attorney added, "A deeply regrets what he did," but also partially denied the charges, saying, "In some of the incidents, he only told others the method, but did not give specific instructions or provide assistance."

A pleaded for leniency. He said, "It has been more than two months since I was brought to the detention center, and during that time I have been bullied and have deeply reflected on my wrongdoing," adding, "If I am allowed to return to society, I will kneel down and apologize to the public officials whether it snows or rains."