A 13-year-old male student was apprehended in Jeju after allegedly posting an online bomb threat that forced the evacuation of a major Seoul department store. The incident occurred on Aug. 5 when the student, identified only as "A", published a message titled "Shinsegae Department Store Bomb Notice" on an internet forum, claiming to have planted explosives set to detonate at 3 pm that afternoon.
The threat prompted immediate action from authorities, resulting in the evacuation of approximately 4,000 shoppers and staff from the Shinsegae Department Store in central Seoul. A substantial police response involving 242 officers, including specialized units, conducted a thorough 90-minute search of the premises before confirming the threat was fraudulent and allowing normal operations to resume.
Police investigators traced the threatening post to the student's home in Jeju City through IP address tracking, leading to his arrest around 7 pm on the same day. During questioning with his parents present, the teenager admitted to creating the false threat. Due to his age, below South Korea's minimum criminal responsibility age of 14, authorities are considering protective measures through the family court rather than criminal prosecution.
This case highlights growing concerns about juvenile digital offenses in South Korea, where similar online threats have increased significantly in recent years. The incident also raises questions about the adequacy of current legal frameworks to address digital crimes committed by minors, particularly as such hoaxes can trigger substantial emergency responses and disrupt public order.
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