
A man in his 40s who wrote in a comment on YouTube that he was preparing a homemade bomb and would "dedicate his life" to an unspecified cause has turned himself in to the police.
Officials at the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police Agency said Tuesday they are investigating the suspect for intimidation, punishable by up to three years in prison or a 5 million won ($3,400) fine under Article 283 of the Criminal Act.
The suspect is believed to be behind a comment written at around 11 p.m. Monday on the YouTube channel of online Korean history lecturer Jeon Han-gil, which said that the person was preparing a homemade bomb.
"I'm preparing a homemade bomb. I cried after hearing Mr. Jeon speak of 'sweeping it all away,'" the post reads, referring to Jeon's speech at a pro-Yoon rally about "sweeping it all away" if the Constitutional Court confirms the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The commenter said he would "dedicate his life," without specifying what he planned to do.
The man, a resident of North Gyeongsang Province, said he never intended to carry out the attack and that the comment was merely a joke. He turned himself in following media reports that police were narrowing in on the suspected author of the comment.
Police had tracked down the suspect's IP address and had been mulling an arrest when he called them.
Yoon is currently under criminal investigation for charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power regarding his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, as well as subsequent instructions to top commanders that allegedly included an order to arrest a list of prominent political figures and outspoken opponents. He has denied issuing such orders.