On April 8, a Chinese man, identified as A (58), was apprehended by police in Seoul after wielding a knife and threatening citizens on the Cheonggyecheon promenade in Seongdong-gu, the very first day the ‘Carrying Weapons in Public Places Law’ was enacted. The Seoul Metropolitan Police’s mobile patrol unit, which was in the area, responded quickly to the scene after receiving a report at 5:44 PM about a man suddenly pulling out a knife on the steps near the Cheonggyecheon promenade.
The local police station, upon receiving the report, dispatched officers urgently, and the mobile patrol unit reached the scene first. They gathered statements from the reporter and witnesses and reviewed nearby CCTV footage as initial actions. The situation was resolved with the apprehension of the suspect and recovery of the weapon when detectives from the regional police station joined the search.
The mobile patrol unit, established last year by the Seoul Metropolitan Police, is tasked with crime prevention, apprehending wanted persons, and enforcing basic order. In March alone, they improved 1,077 crime-vulnerable points, captured 118 wanted individuals, and addressed 1,224 violations of basic order. The unit members regularly receive training on the use of equipment and situation handling, as well as theoretical education on revised laws and regulations, which enabled their swift response in this case.
The ‘Carrying Weapons in Public Places Law,’ effective from April 8, prohibits carrying dangerous weapons in public places like roads or parks without legitimate reason, especially if it instills fear or anxiety. Violators can face up to three years in prison or fines up to 10 million won. The legislation was prompted by a series of knife attacks last July at Sillim Station in Seoul and in August at Seohyeon Station in Bundang, which led to the law’s passage in a National Assembly session on March 20.