Arrest warrant issued for bomb threat suspect

SUWON, South Korea, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- A local court issued an arrest warrant Thursday for a 22-year-old man who allegedly called in threats to bomb the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae over the weekend.

The man, who is the son of a former aide to the parliamentary leader, faces charges of intimidation and obstruction of justice for diverting police forces, authorities said.

The man, identified only by his surname Kang, allegedly left five messages at the presidential office Sunday, saying he would bomb it unless authorities showed "willingness," without explaining what he meant by the word.

He is also suspected of posting on a Twitter page threats to blow up the homes of President Park Geun-hye and her top aide earlier this month.

Police said both of these acts were carried out in France, where Kang was staying until his father brought him home to face interrogation earlier this week.

The Suwon District Court issued the arrest warrant, saying that "the man is showing consistently anti-social inclination."

Health records show Kang was treated for depression for about one and a half years since April 2013, police said. The diagnosis exempted him from South Korea's mandatory military service.

Police, however, also said the fact Kang was able to take out loans and travel to France by himself showed his mental illness wasn't severe enough to let him off the hook.

Kang had earlier told police he called the presidential office to speak to a high-level government official without stating why.

He refused to answer reporters' questions as he entered the court for a hearing Thursday.

sojungpark@yna.co.kr
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