Bomb threats targeting private corporations have recently followed those aimed at schools and subway stations. No actual explosives have been found, but police deployments and employee evacuations have significantly disrupted corporate operations. A new "public intimidation" offense created this year allows for prison terms of up to five years, but critics say its effectiveness is limited because actual punishments have amounted to fines.
According to police and fire authorities on the 19th, since the 15th, reports have poured in claiming explosives were installed at the headquarters of major domestic corporations, including Hyundai, Kakao, Samsung Electronics, Naver, and KT.
That morning, police were dispatched after an email threatened to blow up the Hyundai Group building in Jongno District and Hyundai Motor's Yangjae building in Seocho District in Seoul.
On the 18th, police and firefighters conducted searches after a report that explosives had been installed at Kakao's headquarters in Yeongpyeong-dong, Jeju City. The same day, a post on Kakao's customer center message board said, "I will blow up Samsung Electronics' headquarters in Yeongtong District, Suwon, Gyeonggi, and kill Chairman Lee Jae-yong with a homemade gun." Reports of explosives were also filed for Naver's headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, and the KT building.
On the 15th and 17th, reports also continued of threats to install explosives at Kakao's Pangyo Agit building in Seongnam, Gyeonggi.
Although the threats did not lead to actual attacks, the damage from work stoppages has been significant. On the 15th, Kakao's Pangyo Agit switched to remote work after a report of an explosive installation threat. On the 17th, night shift workers were sent home. On the 18th, about 110 employees working at Kakao's headquarters evacuated the building, and the company shifted to temporary remote work. Samsung Electronics also saw police searches after the threatening post appeared.
Such terror threats can face criminal punishment. Threats aimed at unspecified members of the public are punished as "public intimidation" under the Criminal Act amended in Feb. this year. Previously, there was widespread criticism that punishment was difficult because it was unclear whether the acts could be prosecuted as intimidation and because the targets were unspecified, and the new offense was created to address this.
Public intimidation is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won. For habitual offenders, courts can impose up to seven years and six months in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won.
Separate from criminal punishment, corporations can also file civil claims for damages incurred when they are unable to operate normally due to terror threats.
However, actual penalties tend to be light. In March, a man in his 30s indicted for walking around the Yeongdeungpo District shopping area in Seoul and signaling an attack was fined 6 million won in the first ruling under the public intimidation offense.
Actual civil damages cases are also rare. Attorney Gwak Jun-ho of Law Firm Cheong said, "In most cases the perpetrators lack financial means, and corporations refrain from civil procedures considering the burden of litigation, so there are virtually no meaningful compensation cases."
Experts say penalties should be strengthened. Kim Do-u, a professor in the Department of Police Science at Kyungnam University, said, "In sentencing, courts tend to focus on results such as whether explosives were actually installed or whether a real danger occurred, which leads to lighter punishments," adding, "We need sentencing guidelines close to a zero-tolerance principle so this can take hold as an established judicial framework."
Gwak Dae-kyung, a professor at Dongguk University's College of Police and Criminal Justice, said, "Even if the threats are online, there is no perfect crime, and it is important to spread the perception that offenders will inevitably be caught," adding, "If heavy prison terms or fines are repeatedly imposed for public intimidation, it could also serve as a warning to potential offenders."
Police also view the social expense of false threats as high and are pursuing damages claims. In Aug., police filed a damages lawsuit of about 12 million won against a person in their 20s who posted an online threat to blow up Shinsegae Department Store's main branch. In Sept. last year, they filed a 55 million won damages suit against a man who posted a knife attack threat at Yatap Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi.