Police Deploy 571 Officers Over False “Airport Bombing” Posts... Court Orders 22.77 Million Won in Damages

[Financial News] An online poster who repeatedly uploaded false threats to bomb five domestic airports, including Jeju International Airport, forcing the deployment of a large police contingent, has been ordered to pay the state 22.77 million won in damages.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on the 17th, the 5-2 Civil Division of the Jeju District Court ruled on the 8th in the appeals trial of a damages lawsuit filed by police against the poster of threats to bomb five airports, including Jeju International Airport. The court recognized the poster’s liability for unlawful acts and ordered the payment of 22.77 million won in damages.
Over two days beginning August 6, 2023, the poster uploaded six false threats on the online community dcinside, claiming that Jeju International Airport, Gimhae International Airport, Daegu International Airport, Incheon International Airport, and Gimpo International Airport would be bombed. At the time, police deployed a total of 571 personnel over 18 days to maintain security around the airports and apprehend the poster.
In November of the same year, police filed a 32.53 million won damages lawsuit against the poster. The state calculated the additional overtime pay, meal expenses, fuel costs, official travel expenses, and 112 emergency dispatch allowances incurred while responding to the false bombing threats as property damage.
The court held, “If the poster’s intentional unlawful acts had not occurred, these unnecessary expenses would not have been incurred. Such costs exceed the scope of expenses ordinarily generated by crime prevention and investigative activities.”
Courts have also repeatedly recognized liability for unlawful acts in other damages lawsuits filed by police against people who posted online threats.
In a case in which police sought 12.56 million won in damages from a poster who uploaded a threat to bomb Shinsegae Department Store last August, the Seoul Central District Court recognized the full amount claimed on the 28th of last month.
In another case involving a poster who wrote on an anonymous online community in September 2024 that they would carry out a knife attack at Yatap Station, the Suwon District Court ruled on the 24th of last month that the poster must pay 14.84 million won out of the 50.55 million won in damages sought by police.
Other cases are still under consideration. Police have sought 71.64 million won in damages in a case involving threats to bomb several schools, including Daein High School in Incheon, and 3.6 million won in a case involving threats to bomb Wolgye High School in Seoul.
Police have also filed a 7.58 million won damages lawsuit against a person who made false reports to the 112 emergency line 32 times. The caller reportedly said, “I want to go to prison. I left the gas on. I have a sashimi knife. I’m about to kill someone,” among other statements.
Police plan to actively consider seeking damages in future cases involving public threats and false reports that heighten public anxiety, cause social disruption, and trigger the unnecessary deployment of police resources.


[email protected] Kim Ye-ji Reporter