Six Arrested for Posting 'Murder Threats'... Ministry of Justice to Propose Legal Amendments Establishing Punishment Regulations

Six individuals who posted 'murder threats' targeting unspecified persons on the internet were recently arrested on charges including intimidation and attempted murder.

Until now, internet threats were relatively lightly punished under the Minor Offenses Act and other laws, but just three days after Prosecutor General Lee Won-seok instructed active consideration of detention investigations, five people were detained.

Seoul Seocho-dong Supreme Prosecutors' Office building. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

On the 9th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "The prosecution is strictly responding in cooperation with the police to online postings such as 'murder threats' targeting the general public, and has detained a total of six people on charges including intimidation, obstruction of official duties by deception, and attempted murder."

After a stabbing incident occurred near Sillim Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul on the 21st of last month, similar posts threatening to commit crimes appeared online one after another. The authorities tracked and arrested these individuals, and after examining the specificity and seriousness of the crimes, they were detained. The suspects face charges including intimidation, obstruction of official duties by deception, and attempted murder.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office requested warrants from the police and detained a 26-year-old man on the 27th of last month who threatened to murder 20 women at Sillim Station in Seoul. Additionally, a 19-year-old man who threatened to kill police officers at Seoul Express Bus Terminal Station and was found carrying two kitchen knives was detained on the 6th, and a 31-year-old man who threatened a stabbing rampage at Hyehwa Station in Seoul was detained on the 7th. A 29-year-old man who threatened a stabbing rampage at Sillim Station was also detained the day before.

The Incheon District Prosecutors' Office detained a 40-year-old man on the 7th who threatened to murder 10 women at Bupyeong Rodeo Street, and the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office detained a 19-year-old man who threatened a stabbing rampage at an amusement park the day before.

Earlier, Prosecutor General Lee held an emergency meeting at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 6th as stabbing rampages repeatedly occurred in the heart of the city and murder threat posts continued to appear online, increasing public anxiety. He instructed, "Apply all possible criminal laws including attempted murder and obstruction of official duties by deception, in addition to intimidation charges, to online threat posts targeting the general public nationwide. Thoroughly investigate the motives, backgrounds, means, and methods of the crimes and actively consider detention investigations."

A Supreme Prosecutors' Office official stated, "Posting murder threat messages online cannot be dismissed as mere 'pranks.' These crimes amplify public anxiety and prevent police and security administration resources from being used where needed in a timely manner, so strict measures have been taken."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to pursue legislative amendments to establish punishment provisions for public intimidation acts such as murder threat posts.

The Ministry of Justice said, "Accepting the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's recommendation for 'legislative amendments related to public intimidation,' we plan to add criminal punishment provisions to relevant laws such as the Information and Communications Network Act, referring to legislative examples from countries like the United States and Germany that punish public intimidation acts. We will punish acts that spread or openly post words that cause fear for the life and body of the public, such as murder threats against unspecified many, and work with the Korea Communications Commission and others to establish legal grounds to block the distribution of related information."

They added, "Furthermore, we will promote measures to regulate 'carrying weapons in public places without justifiable reason,' which threatens the safety of ordinary citizens."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.