By Choi Ha-young
Police raided a Twitter user’s home, Monday, over his comment that he would bring a gun to Cheong Wa Dae.
According to Dongjak Police Station, seven police officers combed through the unidentified man’s home in southern Seoul for about an hour beginning at 4 p.m., even including inspecting his parcel boxes and doghouse.
The search came about 15 hours after he tweeted, “I want to go to Cheong Wa Dae with a revolver that I’ve kept in my attic.” He also posted a photo of a sign shown in Saturday’s rally that read: “Resisting until being shot ― does it run in your family?”
He posted the tweets in response to the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil. Park’s father, former President Park Chung-hee, didn’t relinquish his power until his right-hand man assassinated him in October 1979. Park’s mother, first lady Yuk Young-su, was also assassinated in 1974.
“I just grumbled complaints. The police should investigate those who should be investigated, not a hardworking taxpayer like me,” he tweeted later. “As I strongly protested against the raid, the officers told me that someone at a higher level ordered a thorough inspection of my home because I mentioned the words firearm and the presidential office.”
The police did not have a search warrant. Regarding this, police said they can conduct a raid if they obtain consent on the spot, and the man’s mother who was at home consented to the raid.