Police pursuing civil damages against a man who made a Shinsegae bomb threat

Police say they will seek civil damages from a man in his 20s who posted an online threat to blow up the Shinsegae Department Store in Seoul.
 

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Thursday it has decided to pursue damages from the man, who is accused of making a public threat by posting in August that he would blow up the Shinsegae flagship store in Jung District, central Seoul.

Police are pushing to include not only personnel dispatch allowances and fuel costs but also labor expenses in their claim against the man for prompting a large-scale, wasteful deployment of public resources. Applying that measure would bring the total to about 20 million won ($14,100).

 
Investigators say the suspect posted a comment suggesting terror on a YouTube video that reported an earlier online post — dated Aug. 5 — claiming “I will blow up the Shinsegae flagship tomorrow.” The suspect did not name a specific location but wrote, “Tomorrow, Shinsegae, 5 p.m.,” authorities said.

The comment prompted a series of explosive-search operations from 6 a.m. that day at Shinsegae branches across the country, including Starfield Hanam and the South City store in Suji, Yongin, involving firefighters, explosive ordnance teams and special police units.

Yongin Seobu Police Precinct traced the comment’s IP address, identified the suspect and coordinated with the Hadong Police Precinct in South Gyeongsang. The man was arrested in Hadong County at about 8:40 a.m. on Aug. 6.

 
Police say the unemployed suspect told investigators he “left the comment as a joke.” No explosives were found at his home, and searches of the Shinsegae stores were halted only after his arrest.

 
Source: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-10-16/national/socialAffairs/Police-pursuing-civil-damages-against-man-who-made-Shinsegae-bomb-threat/2421724

Comprehension

What kind of threat did the man post online?
Where did the man post the threatening comment?
What did the comment say about the time and place of the threat?
How did the police respond to the online post?
What kind of operations were carried out after the threat was posted?
How did the police identify and locate the suspect?
What did the suspect say was his reason for making the comment?
How much in damages are the police seeking from the suspect?

Discussion

Why do you think some people make online threats, even as a “joke”?
Should people who post fake threats online face serious punishment? Why or why not?
How do online threats affect public safety and trust?
What can authorities do to prevent similar incidents in the future?
Do you think the police’s response to this threat was appropriate? Explain.
How has the internet made it easier for people to spread fear or false information?
What should individuals consider before posting comments online?
How do you think law enforcement can balance safety with avoiding unnecessary panic?
What would you do if you saw a threatening post online?
What lessons can young people learn from this incident about online responsibility?

Vocabulary

Civil damages – money paid to compensate for harm or loss caused by a wrongful act.
Threat – a statement of intent to cause harm or damage.
Flagship – the main or most important store or branch of a company.
Deployment – the movement or use of people or resources for a specific purpose, such as an emergency response.
Ordnance – military supplies including weapons and explosives.
Trace – to find or discover something by following evidence or information.
Precinct – a district or area served by a particular police station.
Unemployed – not having a job or regular work.