Prank callers to face heavy penalty

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, September 24, 2023 | 17:33

Prank callers to face heavy penalty

Posted : 2012-07-25 19:13

Updated : 2012-07-25 19:13

By Yun Suh-young

From now on, people making prank calls or calls threatening to blow up airplanes will be punished severely under civil and criminal law.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said Wednesday that it will strengthen measures against callers who make false calls to threaten airlines.

Those who make the calls will not only receive criminal punishment but also be fined under the civil law.

“If such calls are registered, there are material damages such as the cost of the planes having to make detours but also immaterial damage such as an increase of fear among passengers. We have been lenient toward under-aged people and the mentally challenged but they will not be an exception from now on,” the ministry stated in a press release.

Guardians and even institutes taking care of people with mental health problems will also be punished if people in their charges make such calls.

The number of calls making false threats seemed to be on the decline after 2009 but is now showing signs of increase.

There were 57 false threat calls in 2009, 43 in 2010, and 33 in 2011. But the numbers already reached 28 in the first half of this year and is expected to exceed last year’s total by the end of the year.

Under the new penalties, people who interrupt the operation of an airport by reporting false information and issuing threats will face a maximum five years in prison and a fine of up to 30 million won. Those who interrupt the operation of a plane will be faced with three years in prison and up to 20 million won in fines.

“We will actively promote this new policy to the public to prevent further prank calls. We expect the number of callers to decrease with the new measure and this will reduce passenger inconvenience,” a ministry official said.

ysy@koreatimes.co.kr