A high school student in Incheon has been targeted by police for posting multiple false threats claiming that explosives had been planted in his school. The Incheon Police Agency announced on September 9 that they have decided to file a lawsuit seeking damages amounting to 75.44 million won (about $64,000) against the student, who has been arrested and charged with public threats and obstruction of official duties. This lawsuit marks the first instance since the introduction of the public threat crime law in March 2022, making the damages claimed the largest yet.

From October 13 to October 21 of last year, the 10th-grade student, identified only as Mr. A, allegedly posted seven messages threatening that explosives would be planted at Daein High School, where he was enrolled. Additionally, between September and October of the same year, he extended his threats to other schools and railway stations in the regions of Gyeonggi Gwangju and Chungnam Asan, resulting in a total of 14 threatening messages. The response to these threats mobilized a significant number of emergency personnel, including police officers, firefighters, and military personnel, totaling 633 individuals who spent over 63 hours responding to the incidents.

The damages claimed by the police encompass various costs incurred during the emergency response, such as deployment allowances, overtime payments, travel expenses, and vehicle fuel costs. This lawsuit not only seeks punitive damages from the student but also highlights the growing seriousness with which authorities address such threats, especially in light of public safety and the allocation of resources to counter them. The outcome of this case may set a precedent for how similar incidents will be handled in the future and could further deter potential threats in the community.