🚨 Terror Threats

Today Korean Social News for Beginners | 2025.08.13

0️⃣ Rise in False Threats and Social Chaos, Legal Punishment Enhancement Plans

📌 Repeated False Terror Threats...7 Cases in One Week Spread Public Anxiety

💬 In the past week, 7 false terror threats targeting public places occurred across the country. Department stores, schools, stadiums, swimming pools and other various locations were targeted, with dozens to hundreds of citizens evacuating each time and police special forces being deployed. Fortunately, no actual explosives were found, but repeated false threats are increasing public anxiety. Experts warn that if this situation continues, it could weaken vigilance against real threats like the "boy who cried wolf" effect. Police announced a strong response plan that includes not only criminal punishment but also civil damage compensation for social costs caused by evacuations and searches.

💡 Summary

• Terror threats are acts that cause fear and chaos by warning of bomb installations or harmful actions.
• In the past week, 7 false terror threats occurred nationwide, increasing social chaos.
• Repeated false threats are concerning as they may weaken response capabilities to real threats.

1️⃣ Definition

Terror threats are acts that warn of bomb installations or harmful actions to create fear among unspecified people and disrupt social order. Even without actual intention to carry out terrorism, the threats alone can cause great social chaos and economic losses, making them classified as serious crimes.

Unlike simple personal threats, these target public places or facilities used by many people, threatening the safety of society as a whole. They are carried out through various methods such as online posts or phone calls, and even if false, they cause massive social costs and psychological damage.

💡 Why is this important?

• Even without actual execution intent, they create fear and chaos throughout society.
• Massive social costs occur from evacuations, searches, and bomb disposal team deployments.
• When repeated, they may weaken response capabilities to real threats.
• They directly affect citizens' daily lives and economic activities.

2️⃣ Recent Status and Problems of False Terror Threats

📕 Nationwide Surge in False Threats

• Various public places are becoming targets of threats. Key situations include:

  • Shinsegae Department Store Myeongdong branch had a bomb threat causing 2 hours and 30 minutes of business suspension.
  • Large shopping malls and department stores became main targets, forcing hundreds of shoppers to evacuate urgently.
  • Schools and universities also became threat targets, violating students' right to education.
  • Sports stadiums and public swimming pools among citizen leisure facilities are also being affected.
  • Random threats through online communities and SNS are increasing.

• Social costs and chaos are rapidly spreading. Main problems include:

  • Police special forces, bomb disposal teams, and fire departments are deployed on a large scale each time.
  • Business losses from evacuations and searches range from hundreds of millions to billions of won per case.
  • Citizens' daily lives become unstable and they avoid using public places.
  • Secondary damage occurs from traffic control and surrounding area blockades.
  • Repeated incidents are shaking trust in public authority.

📕 Serious Side Effects of False Threats

• Weakening response to real threats is concerning. Main risks include:

  • The "boy who cried wolf" effect may dull citizens' vigilance.
  • Accumulated response fatigue in investigative agencies and related departments may reduce speed.
  • Media and citizens may start accepting terror threats as everyday incidents.
  • Real terrorists might exploit this situation to hide genuine threats.

• Anxiety and safety complacency are spreading throughout society. Main phenomena include:

  • Growing numbers of citizens feel constant anxiety when using public places.
  • Direct impact on sales of multi-use facilities like shopping malls and movie theaters.
  • Children and teenagers develop fear of schools and public facilities.
  • Some show movements to copy false threats.
  • Accumulated economic damage to tourism industry and small business owners.

💡 Main Problems of False Terror Threats

1. Massive social costs: Astronomical losses from evacuations, searches, and public authority deployment
2. Spreading citizen anxiety: Creating continuous fear and anxiety in daily life
3. Weakened response capability: Reduced ability to respond to real threats due to repeated false threats
4. Economic damage: Direct and indirect economic losses including business interruptions and sales decreases
5. Copycat crimes: Easy execution and big impact leading to copycat crimes

3️⃣ Legal Punishment and Response Plans

✅ Current Legal Punishment System

• Strict punishment is possible under various laws. Main applicable laws include:

  • Criminal Code Article 283 threat charges carry up to 3 years imprisonment or fines up to 5 million won.
  • False Report Punishment Act allows up to 3 years imprisonment or fines up to 10 million won.
  • Obstruction of business charges carry up to 5 years imprisonment or fines up to 15 million won.
  • For cyber threats, enhanced punishment under Information and Communications Network Act applies.
  • Even when minors are perpetrators, civil compensation liability follows along with protective measures.

• Civil damage compensation claims are being strengthened. Main compensation items include:

  • Direct sales losses from business interruptions can be claimed.
  • Costs of public authority deployment for evacuations and searches are also included in compensation.
  • Traffic control and surrounding commercial area damage can be recognized as indirect damage.
  • Mental damage compensation can also be claimed collectively.
  • The Shinsegae Department Store case expects damage claims of about 600 million won.

✅ Comprehensive Response Plans by Government and Society

• Prevention and rapid response systems are being strengthened. Main plans include:

  • Real-time detection of suspicious posts through online monitoring systems.
  • Introduction of AI technology for threat content analysis and rapid source tracking.
  • Major enhancement of security systems in public places and multi-use facilities.
  • Expanding citizen reporting networks for early detection of suspicious activities.
  • Rapid response to overseas threats through international cooperation.

• Social awareness improvement through education and promotion is needed. Main contents include:

  • Expanding citizen education about the seriousness of false terror threats and legal punishment.
  • Strengthening prevention education programs especially for teenagers and college students.
  • Establishing guidelines to prevent copycat crimes when reporting threat incidents in cooperation with media.
  • Expanding autonomous regulation and monitoring roles of online platform operators.
  • Widely promoting reporting procedures when citizens discover suspicious situations.

4️⃣ Related Terms Explanation

🔎 Threat Charges

• Threat charges are crimes that create fear by announcing harm to others.
  • Threat charges are crimes defined in Criminal Code Article 283, where those who threaten people face up to 3 years imprisonment or fines up to 5 million won. Here, threatening means expressing intent to harm the other party or their relatives' life, body, freedom, honor, or property.
  • Requirements for threat charges include: First, there must be announcement of harm - acts that warn of danger to life, body, freedom, honor, or property. Second, the other party must feel fear - whether they actually became scared is important. Third, even indirect intent is punishable - even without intent to threaten, if fear was ultimately created, it can be established.
  • In cases of terror threats, since they target unspecified people and greatly affect social order, they often receive heavier punishment than general threat charges. Also, the more specific the threat content and higher the possibility of realization, the heavier the punishment.

🔎 Obstruction of Business

• Obstruction of business is a crime that interferes with others' work through spreading false information or using force.
  • Obstruction of business is defined in Criminal Code Article 314, where those who spread false information or use force to interfere with people's work face up to 5 years imprisonment or fines up to 15 million won. Terror threats are classified as typical obstruction of business acts.
  • Types of obstruction of business include: First, obstruction by spreading false information - acts that paralyze work by spreading false information. Second, obstruction by force - acts that interfere with work by applying physical or psychological pressure. Terror threats mainly fall under obstruction by force.
  • In cases of terror threats, since they interfere with normal operations of department stores, schools, public institutions, obstruction of business charges apply. Especially since specific damage occurs from business interruptions, evacuations, searches, they are clearly recognized as obstruction of business. The larger the damage scale, the heavier the punishment.

🔎 False Report Punishment Act

• False Report Punishment Act is a law that punishes acts of interfering with public duties through false reports.
  • False Report Punishment Act is short for "False Reporter Punishment Act," a law that punishes acts of interfering with public duty execution or paralyzing public work by making false reports to investigative agencies or public institutions. It stipulates up to 3 years imprisonment or fines up to 10 million won.
  • Main punishment targets include: First, making false accusations or complaints to investigative agencies. Second, making fake fire reports to fire departments. Third, making false emergency patient reports to hospitals or emergency rooms. Fourth, false reports about terrorism or explosives are also included.
  • In cases of terror threats, although not direct reports, since they ultimately cause police, fire departments, bomb disposal teams to be deployed and interfere with public duties, this law can apply. Especially those who repeatedly make false threats are classified as habitual offenders and receive enhanced punishment.

5️⃣ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Are terror threats made as pranks also punished?

A: Even pranks or curiosity result in strict punishment, and you must pay massive damage compensation.

• Terror threats are classified as serious crimes based solely on their impact on society, regardless of the perpetrator's intention. First, in terms of criminal punishment, the motive of "prank" does not exempt from punishment. Threat charges, obstruction of business, False Report Punishment Act all apply, potentially resulting in years of imprisonment or high fines. Second, like the under-14 juvenile in the Shinsegae Department Store case, even if criminal punishment is exempted, parents must bear civil compensation liability. Third, combining costs of public authority deployment for evacuations and searches, business interruption losses, and mental damage, compensation from hundreds of millions to billions of won may be required.
• Especially posts made lightly online thinking they are anonymous are quickly traced by investigative agencies' tracking technology. A moment's prank can become a lifelong burden, so it's absolutely something that should never be done.

Q: How should you respond when encountering terror threats?

A: Immediately report to police, evacuate to a safe place, and preserve related evidence.

• When encountering terror threats, rapid and systematic response is needed. First, immediately report to 112 or nearby police station to get professional investigative agency judgment. Even if you think it's a prank, reporting for safety comes first. Second, evacuate from the facility or location to a safe place and follow officials' guidance in an orderly manner. Third, for online threats, preserve evidence by taking screenshots and saving URLs. Fourth, inform others about the situation to help them take safety measures together.
• However, there are also things you shouldn't do. Approaching dangerous places to check directly or spreading carelessly on SNS to increase secondary damage is dangerous. Also, ignoring or taking lightly thinking "it's probably fake anyway" is forbidden. Waiting for experts' judgment while prioritizing safety is most important.

Q: Why do false terror threats keep increasing?

A: Low punishment awareness, belief in anonymity, copycat psychology, etc. are working together.

• Several factors contribute to the surge in false terror threats. First, many people wrongly think they won't be punished if it's a "prank" or "false." Actually they receive strict punishment, but awareness of this is lacking. Second, there's a misconception that acting anonymously online won't reveal identity. However, most can be tracked through investigative agencies' digital forensic technology. Third, some who witnessed the impact of terror threats through media reports engage in similar behavior due to attention-seeking or copycat psychology. Fourth, distorted psychology of expressing stress or dissatisfaction to society is also a factor.
• To solve this, strong punishment along with prevention education is important. Especially cyber ethics education for teenagers and young people and providing accurate information about legal punishment is needed. Also, strengthening monitoring by online platforms and improving citizens' reporting consciousness should be done together.

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