Armed Man Heads to Cafe… Why a Man in His 40s Showed Up After Arrest

A man in his 40s, who allegedly threatened pedestrians with a weapon and tried to break into a cafe near the Han River Park crowded with people on the last day of the Chuseok holiday, faces a critical decision regarding his arrest.

Judge Kim Ji-hyun, the duty judge handling arrest warrants at the Seoul Southern District Court, is holding a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant substantive examination) starting at 10:30 a.m. today (the 29th) for the suspect, surnamed Cheon, who is accused of carrying a weapon in a public place.

Arriving at the court around 9:53 a.m. wearing a black hat, Cheon responded to reporters asking why he threatened pedestrians and tried to enter the cafe by saying, "I haven't done anything wrong, have I?"

Cheon is accused of threatening pedestrians with a weapon near the Yanghwa Hangang Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, at around 3:45 p.m. on the 27th.

When Cheon shouted, pedestrians evacuated to a nearby cafe.

Cheon attempted to enter the cafe while holding the weapon, but the cafe owner locked the doors and windows and immediately reported him to the police, preventing further harm.

It is reported that there were around 15 people inside the cafe who had taken shelter.

Under the Criminal Act, the offense of carrying a weapon in a public place applies when a person carries and displays a weapon in a public area used or frequented by the general public, such as roads and parks, without justifiable cause, thereby causing anxiety or fear to the public, and is punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.