Police sue individual over BTS concert terror threat

South Korean police have initiated legal action to claim damages from the person who posted a terror threat targeting a BTS concert in Gwanghwamun. The lawsuit aims to recover the social costs associated with the significant deployment of public resources, including on-site searches, required for the investigation.

The National Police Agency announced on June 15 that it had decided to file lawsuits for damages in three cases related to online terror threats. One of these cases involves the individual who posted a message on the internet threatening to throw gasoline in a water bottle ahead of the BTS concert in Gwanghwamun. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency plans to file a lawsuit seeking 2.28 million won (approximately $1,650 USD) in damages against this individual.

In a separate but related action, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency intends to file lawsuits totaling 31.91 million won (approximately $23,000 USD) in damages. These suits target individuals who sent fake bomb threats via email to companies like Kakao and KT between December and February. The threats also included bomb warnings directed at the 119 safety 신고센터 (emergency reporting center) concerning locations such as Gangnam Station, Busan Station, and Cheonan-Asan Station.

Additionally, lawsuits are being prepared against individuals who posted threats targeting the Presidential Office, the Blue House, the presidential residence, and an apartment complex in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, within an online community. The police are pursuing these legal actions to hold perpetrators accountable for the disruption and resources expended in responding to such threats.