Korean man probed after threat to blow up Japanese Embassy

An arrest warrant has not been requested for a man who allegedly threatened to blow up the Japanese Embassy in Seoul during the Olympics. / Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho

A Korean man is under investigation after allegedly threatening to blow up the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, a source told The Korea Times Wednesday.

The man, surnamed Jung, 55, made a threatening call to the embassy on Feb. 12, a day after NBC Sports analyst Joshua Cooper Ramo infuriated Koreans with ignorant remarks about Korea’s history during the broadcaster’s PyeongChang Olympic coverage, the source said.

Jung, who was apparently drunk when he made the call, is suspected of threatening to blow up the embassy with dynamite.

It is unclear whether he had a specific plan and weapons.

Following the call, the embassy told police, who apprehended Jung at his house in Incheon. He was released after questioning.

An arrest warrant has not been requested, but the prosecution will decide soon whether to indict him.