Shinsegae Department Store estimated a loss of 500 million to 600 million won while temporarily suspending operations due to an internet post claiming that explosives had been placed at its Myeongdong flagship store on the 5th. On the night prior, additional comments forecasting another detonation prompted an emergency search at all stores nationwide on the 6th.
The suspects, a middle school first-year male student and a male in his 20s, have been apprehended by the police. Earlier, Shinsegae indicated it would take strong measures against the author of the detonation forecast post, including legal action.
According to Shinsegae Department Store, starting at 6 a.m. that day, police conducted emergency searches related to bomb threats at branches nationwide, including the Yongin South City store and the Hanam Starfield store. This was due to an additional comment made around 11 p.m. the previous night on a YouTube channel stating, 'I will blow up Shinsegae Department Store.'
After confirming safety following the search, the police withdrew, and Shinsegae Department Store resumed normal operations starting at 10:30 a.m. The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency apprehended the male in his 20s who made the comment around 8 a.m. that day. The inspection was conducted before the store opened and had no impact on sales.
However, during the first bomb threat made during business hours the previous afternoon, operations at the Shinsegae Department Store flagship were suspended for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes for evacuation and safety checks. Shinsegae reported that, based on weekday figures, the sales amount during that time was around 500 million to 600 million won, and the resulting loss is estimated to correspond to this.
The Jeju West Police Station has apprehended middle school first-year student B around 7 p.m. the previous day, who posted about placing explosives at the Myeongdong flagship store, and is investigating him on charges of public intimidation under criminal law.
Shinsegae Department Store stated regarding the situation that arose from the bomb threat post in the internet community, 'We will take strong measures, including legal action, against acts that have created social unrest and threatened customer safety due to false information.'
Posting threats regarding the installation of explosives under criminal law is considered public intimidation and can be severely punished with imprisonment of up to 5 years or fines of up to 20 million won.