A man in his 20s who uploaded a post on an online community threatening a stabbing rampage at Yatap Station, prompting the deployment of heavy police forces including armored vehicles and special commandos, has been ordered to pay approximately 14 million won in damages to the state.

This marks the court's first ruling since the police filed a damage compensation lawsuit to hold individuals accountable for wasting public security resources due to online threatening posts.

Judge Jang Seong-shin of Civil Division 22 at the Suwon District Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in part today (August 24) in a damages lawsuit filed by the state against a man in his 20s, surnamed A, ordering that "the defendant shall pay approximately 14.84 million won to the plaintiff."

Previously, the police filed the lawsuit stating that A's false threat resulted in a waste of administrative costs totaling some 55.05 million won, which included personnel expenses, overtime pay, and vehicle fuel costs for the police officers deployed to the scene.

The court acknowledged A's liability for damages only regarding about 27 percent of the claimed amount, which is approximately 14.84 million won, and dismissed the rest of the claim.

The specific reasons behind the court's decision to cite only a portion of the claimed amount have not yet been disclosed.

A is accused of uploading a post titled "I will stab and kill 30 people on Monday at Yatap Station" on an online anonymous community board that he managed on September 18, 2024.

Immediately after the post was circulated, the police mobilized special forces and advanced armored vehicles around Yatap Station to prepare for any potential contingencies, conducting prolonged emergency patrols.

Later, through international cooperative investigation and other means, the police arrested A in November of the same year, 56 days after the post was uploaded.

It was understood that A stated during police questioning that he committed the act to promote the website he operated.

The police initiated civil lawsuit procedures, determining that A's false threat was not only a serious crime but also caused a massive waste of policing power and public harm.

Police leadership had also previously stated a stance of strict response regarding such public threat acts, announcing that they would actively review follow-up measures including strict criminal punishment as well as civil damage claims.

Accordingly, the police filed damage lawsuits for the first time against both A, the defendant in this case, and the writer of a "Shinsegae Department Store bombing threat" post. The ruling on the Yatap Station case is the court's first judgment among them.

(Photo: Yonhap News)