Man Arrested for Alleged Commuter Sexual Harassment on Seoul Subway Line 2 Following Online Warnings

A man in his 50s accused of repeatedly groping female passengers on Seoul Subway Line 2 has been arrested by police following a stakeout.

The Subway Police Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested a man in his 50s, identified as A, on charges of committing indecent acts in crowded places at Gangnam Station on Subway Line 2 at around 10 p.m. on September 2.

A is suspected of making inappropriate physical contact with female passengers multiple times recently inside Subway Line 2 trains.

Police launched a search after eyewitness accounts of a middle-aged man committing crimes on Line 2 were posted consecutively on social media recently.

Previously, a post appeared on social media along with a photo warning, "Everyone, be careful of the short-haired, bald middle-aged man on Line 2."

The photo showed a man wearing a backpack standing closely behind a female passenger inside a subway train while looking at his smartphone.

As the post spread rapidly, reports followed from people claiming they had suffered similar victimization or had seen the same man.

One netizen complained about the victimization, saying, "He seems like a habitual offender. I was targeted while commuting home on Line 2, and it was exactly the same. I've been taking the bus ever since."

There was also a report that a man with a similar appearance was witnessed on August 29 inside a train heading from Gangnam Station toward Sadang Station.

Police conducted stakeout operations at subway stations and inside trains to find the man pointed out on social media, identified A as a suspect based on his physical description and appearance, and apprehended him at Gangnam Station.

Police plan to investigate A regarding the exact number of offenses and the circumstances of the crimes before reviewing whether to apply for an arrest warrant.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Seo Byeong-wook | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.