A man has been caught driving under the influence near Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday morning, after reportedly threatening to blow up the presidential office.

The Seoul Jongno Police Station said Tuesday that he has been booked and is currently under investigation for driving the wrong way down the street in front of Cheong Wa Dae at around 3:50 a.m.

The man called the police on Monday evening and warned that he would “go to blow up Cheong Wa Dae at 4:30 a.m.” He drove toward the presidential office in Jongno-gu, central Seoul after making the phone call.


He was stopped by a presidential guard, who found his blood alcohol content to be 0.141 percent, sufficient to lead to the revocation of his driving license.

According to the police, no explosives were found on the man or in his car. Police said the man appears to have committed his acts out of intoxication with no real intent.

Police relayed the case to a summary trial. He will be sent back home as soon as questioning is over.

By Cho Yun-myung (yunc39@heraldcorp.com)