{"id":2201936,"date":"2023-08-08T17:57:25","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T08:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201936"},"modified":"2023-08-09T17:56:30","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T08:56:30","slug":"from-digital-threats-to-real-world-violence-the-thin-blurring-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/08\/from-digital-threats-to-real-world-violence-the-thin-blurring-line\/","title":{"rendered":"From digital threats to real-world violence: The thin, blurring line"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite South Korea\u2019s reputation as an exceptionally safe country, a recent spate of <\/span>violent incidents<\/span><\/a> has deeply unsettled Korean society, drawing attention to the influence of online communities in the country and their potential role in facilitating or inspiring these acts of violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

A 33-year-old unemployed man brandished a knife and launched <\/span>unprovoked attacks<\/span><\/a> on unsuspecting bystanders near Sillim Subway Station in southwestern Seoul on July 21. The suspect had no known ties to any of his victims. Such random acts of violence, in which assailants seemingly select victims without any apparent motive, are referred to in Korea as \u201cdon’t ask murders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Less than two weeks later, a 22-year-old delivery worker intentionally drove his car into a populated bus stop in Bundang, just south of Seoul. Following the vehicular assault, the man ventured into a department store adjacent to the Seohyeon subway station, knife in hand and proceeded to <\/span>attack<\/span><\/a> shoppers. The incident left one person dead and injured 13 others.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day, a man was <\/span>apprehended<\/span><\/a> after entering a high school in Daejon and stabbing his former teacher, grievously injuring him.<\/span><\/p>\n

GLOBAL PARALLELS<\/b><\/p>\n

Random acts of violence are not unheard of in the ROK. In 1992, a man <\/span>plowed<\/span><\/a> his car into Yeouido Plaza near the National Assembly, claiming two lives and leaving 21 injured. In 2008, a man <\/span>ignited a blaze<\/span><\/a> in a one-room apartment building in Gangnam and attacked fleeing residents with a knife, resulting in six fatalities and seven others wounded. However, the frequency of the recent violent incidents stands out.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth noting that the recent episodes show parallels with incidents abroad. The Seohyeon Station event mirrors the <\/span>2008 Akihabara attack<\/span><\/a>. That June, a 25-year-old man drove into a crosswalk in Tokyo\u2019s Akihabara neighborhood and attacked passersby with a knife, killing seven and injuring 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, the Sillim Station attack calls to mind an attack that took place in <\/span>Hong Kong<\/span><\/a> in June, when a 39-year-old man fatally stabbed two women in a Kowloon mall. <\/span>Reports<\/span><\/a> indicate that the Sillim Station assailant had researched the Hong Kong incident online. While it remains unclear if he also looked into the Akihabara attack, the striking similarities between the events make a connection conceivable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Responding to these random acts of violence, the South Korean government took immediate and decisive action. President Yoon Suk-yeol pledged a robust response, <\/span>mobilizing<\/span><\/a> \u201call possible police forces\u201d in the nation. Additionally, National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun issued a <\/span>special security alert<\/span><\/a>, an unprecedented move.<\/span><\/p>\n

This alert saw the deployment of 12,000 officers to monitor 247 high-traffic locations nationwide, from plazas to department stores. In some areas, the presence of armored vehicles further underscored the gravity of the situation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

National Police Agency Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun conducts an inspection at Jamsil Subway Station, Aug. 5, 2023 | Image: Korean National Police Agency<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

ANONYMOUS THREATS<\/b><\/p>\n

The difference between past and recent crimes is that the online world has become a stage for violent threats. Explicit threats of murder or acts of terror have become increasingly prevalent on South Korean internet forums. In a recent tally, authorities identified 187 such threats. The authors are predominantly anonymous, making their messages all the more unsettling given the recent surge in real-world violence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Authorities discovered that many of those threats were posted on <\/span>DC Inside<\/span><\/a>, arguably one of South Korea\u2019s largest online platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n

DC Inside allows users to create and contribute to various themed sections known as \u201cgalleries.\u201d While it has become a significant part of South Korea\u2019s internet landscape, it has been mired in controversy due to its anonymous nature, which has sometimes fostered harmful content.<\/span><\/p>\n

Particularly notorious is its \u201cDepression Gallery,\u201d which has hosted content such as teenagers\u2019 deaths, <\/span>sexual exploitation of runaway minors<\/span><\/a>, drug trafficking and frequent discussions of suicide. Other galleries were shut down due to users frequently uploading <\/span>animal abuse content<\/span><\/a>. Notably, many recent death threats were pinpointed to the bulletin boards of DC Inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

Facing this flood of digital threats, law enforcement has stepped up. Police Commissioner Yoon has committed to aggressively counter these virtual threats. Their determination has borne fruit; as of Aug. 7, the police have apprehended <\/span>67 individuals<\/span><\/a> linked to online threats. Alarmingly, <\/span>more than half<\/span><\/a> of those arrested are teenagers.<\/span><\/p>\n

ANONYMITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY<\/b><\/p>\n

Amid the surge of online threats, one of the individuals the authorities <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> was a man in his 20s who posted a death threat on YouTube. He was charged with obstructing the duties of public officials; the first time authorities charged anyone with that crime for posting an online comment.<\/span><\/p>\n

The gravity of the issue further escalated when the police announced that underage teenagers making similar threats would be <\/span>charged<\/span><\/a> as adults. This policy shift highlights a profound dilemma; while the desire to curb dangerous online behavior is valid, it brings into question the handling of youth offenders who may merely be seeking attention or attempting to project a certain image online.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of those arrested have <\/span>confessed<\/span><\/a> that their online threats were primarily made for attention-seeking, to gain online validation, or to appear \u201ctough\u201d among their peers. This trend underscores a broader societal issue where the lines between virtual bravado and real-world intent become blurred.<\/span><\/p>\n

The government is now in a precarious position. As these incidents multiply, it will likely face mounting pressure to clamp down on anonymous online platforms, such as DC Inside. Such actions, however, bring forth contentious debates. Any crackdown may infringe upon internet freedom and freedom of expression.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, in today\u2019s digital age, restricting or monitoring internet platforms poses its own set of challenges. It\u2019s a relatively simple task for individuals to navigate restrictions using virtual private networks, anonymous browsers, or access platforms hosted abroad.<\/span><\/p>\n

While the urgency to address the menace of anonymous threats is undeniable, the path forward will be challenging. The South Korean government will come under pressure to balance the safety of its citizens with preserving the principles of a free and open internet. As South Korea grapples with these challenges, its journey will inevitably be watched closely by other nations facing similar digital dilemmas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Culture & Society<\/span><\/a>Domestic Politics<\/span><\/a>Technology & Cyber<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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