Police have arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of posting online threats to kill Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, authorities said Friday. The suspect was taken into custody at his home in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, around 5:55 p.m. after investigators traced multiple threatening messages he had uploaded earlier in the day.
According to police, the threats appeared on online forums, including a community page often used by police trainees. The posts quickly prompted a formal investigation after being reported to the authorities, leading officers to identify and apprehend the suspect within hours.
At around 10 a.m., the suspect posted a message on the DC Inside Constable’s gallery threatening to “throw Mayor Oh off the western highway and kill him.” The post, laced with insults and angry remarks about the state of the road, quickly raised concerns and triggered an urgent response from the police.
The threats appeared to be linked to frustration over the redevelopment of the Seobu Expressway, which is currently being converted into a regular road. The project has triggered traffic delays and public complaints, raising speculation that the suspect’s anger toward the mayor stemmed from these inconveniences.
The Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency first received the threat and sought cooperation from the Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul. Officers from Namdaemun quickly visited the Seoul Metropolitan Council, where Mayor Oh was attending an event, to verify his safety. Officials confirmed there was no direct risk to the mayor at the time.
After tracing the source of the messages, authorities moved in to arrest the suspect at his home. Police reported that he did not resist during the operation and was taken into custody without incident. He was later transferred to Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station for questioning.
Investigators said they will examine the suspect’s motives and circumstances in detail, including whether the posts were driven purely by dissatisfaction over the highway project or if other factors played a role. “We will look into the background and intent behind the threats through further questioning,” one police official stated.
The case has stirred public attention, not only because it targeted one of South Korea’s most high-profile political figures, but also due to the broader frustration surrounding the Seobu Expressway project. Authorities emphasized that while the mayor’s safety is secure, they will continue to treat such threats with urgency to prevent potential risks.
