'I Thought I Would Die': Probe Launched After Seoul's 'Seek Shelter' Alert

  • Seoul government tells residents to evacuate in early morning
  • Interior Ministry sends alert later calling message an error
The emergency evacuation warning text message issued by Seoul City on May 31.Photographer: Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

South Koreans in Seoul woke up Wednesday to air raid sirens and warnings on their mobile phones to immediately evacuate — only to be told 20 minutes later that it was all a mistake.

Residents in the country’s biggest city received a mobile push alert at 6:41 a.m. telling them to seek shelter about 10 minutes after North Korea launched a rocket carrying a military space satellite. Rare air raid sirens blared across the city and instructions to take cover filtered through loudspeakers on the streets.