On the evening of November 22, 2024, the Dungeon & Fighter Festival held at KINTEX, Ilsan, was abruptly halted just one hour before its scheduled opening. The culprit? A bomb threat posted on a DC Inside gallery at approximately 4:55 PM. Thousands of attendees were forced to evacuate, and while a subsequent police search confirmed that no explosives were present, the delay caused significant disruption and distress to fans and organizers alike.

This wasn't an isolated incident. Large-scale gaming events—from the 2023 Genshin Summer Festival and Black Desert Mobile offline meetups to the 2024 HoYoverse Land—have been plagued by recurring bomb threats. Unfortunately, the legal framework at the time proved woefully inadequate for proper prosecution.

However, the landscape shifted dramatically on March 18 of this year with the introduction of Article 116-2 of the Criminal Act: the Crime of Public Intimidation. This new provision allows for much harsher penalties for threats directed at an unspecified public compared to traditional intimidation charges.

Since there are no precedents for gaming-related threats yet, we must look at the 2023 Lotte World incident as a benchmark.

In the case of Busan District Court Eastern Branch 2023Godan2583, the defendant posted a comment on an online community on August 5, 2023, claiming: "I will carry out a bomb terror attack at Lotte World from August 5 to August 7." It was a clear act of public intimidation targeting a theme park visited by tens of thousands.

The court applied Article 283 (Intimidation) and Article 137 (Obstruction of Official Duties by Deception) of the Criminal Act. The sentence? A 5 million KRW fine, or labor in a detention facility at a rate of 100,000 KRW per day if unpaid.

At the time, the maximum penalty for intimidation was 3 years in prison or a 5 million KRW fine, while obstruction of official duties carried up to 5 years or 10 million KRW. The court opted for the former. Critics argued this was a slap on the wrist, considering that dozens of public safety personnel were mobilized and a facility hosting tens of thousands was paralyzed.

The deeper issue was the structural difficulty in applying the law. Traditional intimidation charges were designed for threats against 'specific individuals,' creating a legal vacuum when dealing with threats against the masses. Victims were hard to identify, and the point of criminal culpability was murky, leading to inconsistent rulings across different courts.

The new Crime of Public Intimidation, codified in Article 116-2, is crystal clear: "A person who publicly intimidates the public by threatening to inflict harm on the life or body of an unspecified or multiple persons shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW."

Compared to the old laws, the penalties have surged. Imprisonment terms increased from 3 to 5 years (a 67% jump), and the maximum fine quadrupled from 5 million to 20 million KRW. Repeat offenders face a 50% sentencing enhancement, potentially reaching 7.5 years in prison or 30 million KRW in fines. It serves as a stern warning to those who treat gaming events as their personal playground for terror.

Beyond the numbers, the criteria for the crime have been clarified. The old "victim must be specific" loophole is gone. Gaming event threats are the quintessential example of this new law.

Furthermore, attempted crimes are now punishable. Even if no explosives were planted—or if the perpetrator never even set foot at the venue—the act of posting the threat is enough to warrant prosecution. This is a vital move toward proactive deterrence.

Had this law been in effect during the Busan District Court case 2023Godan2583, the outcome would have been starkly different.

Instead of the 5 million KRW fine under the old intimidation charge, the defendant would have faced the new 5-year/20 million KRW maximum under Article 116-2.

Even if the court had opted for a fine, it would likely have fallen in the 10 to 20 million KRW range—two to four times the original penalty.

If the court had considered the massive social disruption and waste of public resources, an actual prison sentence would have been well within the realm of possibility.

Legal squabbles over the definition of the crime would have been largely avoided. The new law eliminates the need to argue over whether a threat against the public qualifies as intimidation; it is now the very essence of the charge.

This legal shift is set to transform the environment surrounding gaming event threats.

First, the efficacy of criminal punishment is bolstered. The "it's just a fine" mentality is dead. With the threat of up to 5 years in prison, criminal records, and potential employment restrictions, the deterrent effect is significantly stronger.

Civil liability is also on firmer ground. Organizers seeking damages for event cancellations and lost revenue can now cite the Public Intimidation Law as a core pillar of their claims, significantly increasing the likelihood of successful litigation.

Expect faster investigations and indictments. Police and prosecutors no longer need to waste time debating whether the old intimidation law applies; they have a clear, actionable statute. Since March 18, 2025, authorities have been acting with much greater agility.

However, the devil is in the details, and the courts will need time to form precedents. Distinguishing between a "joke" and a "serious threat" or handling anonymous posts will be the next major legal battleground. Early on, we may see inconsistent rulings as judges grapple with these nuances.

The 2024 Dungeon & Fighter Festival incident highlighted the vulnerability of offline gaming events. The old legal tools were simply insufficient to protect organizers and fans.

The Public Intimidation Law, effective since March 2025, is changing that. With a 4x increase in fines, a 67% increase in potential prison time, and clear definitions, the consequences are no longer a slap on the wrist.

If the 2023 Lotte World case were to happen today, the perpetrator would face at least 10 to 20 million KRW in fines or even jail time. Repeat offenders could now be looking at up to 7.5 years behind bars.

Gaming events are festivals for thousands to enjoy. A single "joke" threatens the safety of the many, causes massive financial damage, and leaves the perpetrator with a permanent criminal record and a prison sentence. It’s time to realize this is no longer a light offense.