Two Arrests on the First Day of 'Possession of a Deadly Weapon in Public' in Downtown Seoul and Jeju
On the first day of the enforcement of the 'Possession of a Deadly Weapon in Public,' a Chinese man in his 50s and a man in his 40s were arrested by the police in downtown Seoul and Jeju, respectively.
On the afternoon of the 8th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police arrested a Chinese national, A, for pulling out a knife in the Cheonggyecheon promenade in Seongdong-gu, aimed at pedestrians. The mobile patrol team confirmed A's identity by reviewing CCTV footage based on reports from a witness and the informant, resulting in A's arrest and the seizure of the deadly weapon.
The newly implemented law on possession of deadly weapons in public stipulates that individuals carrying such weapons in public without justifiable reasons and causing anxiety or fear can face imprisonment for up to three years or fines not exceeding 10 million KRW.
This law was pushed forward following knife-wielding incidents that occurred recently at Sillim Station in Seoul and Seohyun Station in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province. It passed the National Assembly last month and was enforced starting on the 8th of this month.
A police official stated, "Even though it was the first day of the enforcement of the revised law, our officers were well-prepared, allowing for a quick response."
Meanwhile, on the same day, a man in his 40s, B, was arrested in Jeju for carrying a deadly weapon on the street.
The Jeju Seogwipo Police reported that B was apprehended while heavily intoxicated at a close distance to the informant, and a knife measuring 28 cm in total length was discovered and seized on the scene.
B is reported to have stated that he took out the knife because he believed the informant was staring at him. These incidents are drawing attention as practical applications of the newly implemented law.
There is ongoing concern about whether such laws can contribute to strengthening the safety net in society.
Image Source: Provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, reference photo for understanding the article / gettyimagesbank
