The Brutal Reality of Korea's Public Security: Kicked Cars and Wielded Weapons, Yet Police Said, 'Give Up as We Can't Find Them'

A car suddenly cuts in front of a vehicle driving down a road in the middle of the night, blocking its path.

Two men then get out of the vehicle, kick the car, and threaten the driver with a weapon.

The driver quickly turns the car around and leaves the scene.

This incident took place on a road in Majang-myeon, Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, at around 11:40 PM on July 29.

Police recently arrested and detained a 21-year-old male of Kazakhstan nationality, one of the perpetrators, on charges including special intimidation and property damage.

The accomplice, a 25-year-old male, was caught by authorities for illegal residency and is understood to have already been forcibly deported earlier this month.

During police questioning, the suspect stated, "On the day of the incident, I was on my way back after failing to sell my car to another foreigner. I committed the crime because I mistook the victim's car for the vehicle of the person I was supposed to trade cars with."

However, controversy has arisen over the police's initial response, with accusations of delayed investigation.

Right after the incident, the victim reported it to the police, but the police reportedly told the victim, "We cannot identify the license plate," and added, "We cannot find the perpetrator's car, so just give up."

Furthermore, the police classified the case as an "unsolved case under management," effectively moving to close the investigation.

The incident came to light after the victim reported the related video to a YouTube channel last month. Only then did the police launch a reinvestigation, emergency arresting the suspect 79 days after the incident occurred.

The police response also drew criticism from the political circle.

People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won pointed out, "The police did not fail to catch them; they chose not to catch them," adding, "This is the stark reality of South Korea's public security, where citizens have to vent to YouTube instead of relying on public authority."

Criticism also followed regarding the accomplice who participated in the crime, noting that "while the police were sweeping the case under the rug, it was effectively like handing him an outbound ticket."

(Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Lee Ui-seon | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Footage source: YouTube 'Han Moon-chul TV' | Produced by SBS Digital News)

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