South Korean man investigated over bid to join ISIS, theft of detonating devices

The 23-year-old allegedly propagated terrorist activities by uploading videos and materials of ISIS’ acts, and was in contact with members of the group

He is suspected of stealing the detonators for explosives during his stint in the military, but has denied any links to the militant group

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Kurdish fighters fire rifles at a drone operated by Islamic State militants in Raqqa, Syria, in June 2017. Asia is grappling with how to handle the hundreds of ISIS followers returning home from fighting in the Middle East. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:23pm, 9 Jul 2019Updated: 7:44pm, 9 Jul 2019

A 23-year-old South Korean man is under investigation for allegedly seeking to join the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group and stealing detonating devices for explosives while he was serving in the military, a defence ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

If convicted, he would become the first South Korean to be punished under the country’s anti-terrorist law that went into effect in 2016, the Yonhap news agency said.

“He has been under investigation by civilian prosecution authorities,” the spokesman told the South China Morning Post, adding that the suspect had completed his obligatory military service and was discharged from the army last week.

All able bodied men in South Korea are required to serve about two years in the military.

The man – identified only by his surname, Park – allegedly stole the detonating devices in 2017 when he was training as an army explosive specialist, Yonhap said.