A man in his 50s who posted threatening comments such as "I will throw gasoline" on posts related to the comeback concert by K-pop group BTS held at Gwanghwamun Square in March received a prison sentence with probation in his first trial.
The Seoul Northern District Court's Criminal Division 14 (Judge Kang Kyung-mook) on the 12th sentenced Kang (54), who was indicted on charges of public threat, to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. The court also ordered probation and 200 hours of community service.
Kang is accused of posting a comment stating "I will throw plastic water bottles filled with gasoline" on a social networking service (SNS) post titled "BTS Gwanghwamun Concert Traffic Control Information," two days before the "BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang" concert on March 19. He was also found to have left 22 comments aimed at threatening an unspecified number of people, including "The Gwanghwamun concert will become a sea of fire" and "I will set it on fire."
After receiving a 112 emergency call at the time, police urgently arrested Kang within about five hours and sent him to trial in custody on the 2nd of last month. During police investigation, Kang reportedly stated, "I only wrote the posts to attract attention and had no actual intention to carry them out."
The court stated, "This is a crime that undermined public safety by causing anxiety and fear among many members of society," adding that "the defendant needs to be sternly punished."
However, the court explained that it determined the sentence taking into account that Kang admitted to the crime and showed a remorseful attitude, and that he has no record of criminal punishment in the past 25 years.
