Man ordered to pay $10,700 for false threat at South Korean station

A South Korean man has been ordered to pay damages for making a false threat of violence at Yeop-eum Station in Seongnam two years ago. The 20-something individual will compensate the government for the significant resources expended in responding to his fabricated threat.

The incident, dubbed the 'Yeop-eum Station murder threat,' began in September 2022 when a post appeared on an online community claiming "30 people will die at Yeop-eum Station at 6 p.m. on the 23rd." This prompted a massive police response, including special forces and armored vehicles, with 529 officers patrolling the area for 20 days. The investigation revealed the post was a hoax intended to promote the perpetrator's website.

The court ruled that the man must pay 14.84 million won (approximately $10,700 USD) in compensation. This amount represents about 27% of the 55.05 million won the police claimed in costs, which included personnel expenses, overtime pay, meals, and fuel. While the man faces civil liability for wasting public security resources, the article notes that such false threats are increasingly being met with stricter penalties. Following similar incidents, South Korea introduced the crime of 'public threat' in July 2023, punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of 20 million won. The article argues that even without actual violence, these hoaxes impose significant social costs and create a sense of insecurity.

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The defendant's illegal act caused the state to incur unnecessary expenses.