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South Korean Man Sent to Prosecutors for Threatening President Online
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Elections & Politics

South Korean Man Sent to Prosecutors for Threatening President Online

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 30-year-old office worker in South Korea was sent to prosecutors for allegedly posting death threats against the president on social media.
  • The individual made eight separate posts, reportedly motivated by dissatisfaction with the president's handling of a ballot shortage issue during a past election.
  • Police emphasized that even without intent to act, posting threatening messages is a clear criminal offense.

South Korean authorities have forwarded a 30-year-old office worker to prosecutors for allegedly making death threats against the president on social media. The individual is accused of posting the threats eight times on their social media account.

According to police, the suspect stated they were motivated by a perception that the president was evading responsibility for a ballot shortage incident during the June 3rd elections. The police initiated an investigation after receiving a report through the National Civil Service Call Center.

Even without actual intent to execute, posting content that is threatening or implies harm is a clear criminal act.

โ€” Police officialExplaining the legal ramifications of the suspect's actions.

While the exact content of the posts was not disclosed, police confirmed the suspect confessed to writing them. A police official stressed that posting threatening messages, regardless of actual intent to carry them out, constitutes a clear criminal act. Authorities plan to continue strictly prosecuting such online threats.

We plan to continue strictly prosecuting those who post such threatening messages.

โ€” Police officialStating the authorities' commitment to addressing online threats.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.