Seoul: Police on Friday apprehended a man suspected of posting online messages threatening to kill Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon but soon released him upon Oh's request.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the man, who is in his 20s, was apprehended at his residence in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, at around 5:55 p.m. after posting multiple messages on online forums earlier in the day. The Gyeonggi Hwaseong Dongtan Police reported that the suspect's online posts included a murder threat and a complaint regarding a road construction project in western Seoul, which he claimed was causing inconvenience for users.

Police tracked down the suspect by tracing his online messages and reportedly secured his testimony acknowledging the charge brought against him. Despite the severity of the threat, the suspect was released shortly after the investigation as Mayor Oh's side expressed their intent to forgo any punishment against him.

A police official declined to provide further details on the man's intentions, noting that the suspect has already been released.