[2026 Parliamentary Audit] Kim Junhwan: "1,193 Cases in 1 Year, 4 Months Since Public-Place Weapon-Carrying Offense Took Effect"

"414 Offenses Committed While Intoxicated...34.7% of the Total"

In the 1 year and 4 months since the law criminalizing the possession of weapons in public places took effect, 1,193 related incidents have occurred and 1,164 people have been arrested. Among those arrested, middle-aged people aged 41 to 65 accounted for 56.6%, and more than one-third of the offenses were committed while the suspects were intoxicated.

On the afternoon of the 13th, a man in his 50s went on a stabbing spree at a large commercial complex in Namdong-gu, Incheon, injuring eight visitors. The photo shows the suspect captured on CCTV in the building's second-floor restaurant area. Yonhap News Agency

According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Kim Junhwan, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, on October 14, 1,193 related incidents occurred from April last year, when the law criminalizing the possession of weapons in public places took effect, through August this year. A total of 1,164 people were arrested, and 1,020 were referred to prosecutors. The referral rate was 87.6% of those arrested.

The number of incidents was 626 from April to December last year and 567 from January to August this year.

By age, 659 of those arrested were aged 41 to 65, accounting for 56.6% of the total. Those in their 20s and 30s followed, with 278 arrests.

By the suspects' condition at the time of the offense, 414 incidents involved intoxicated suspects, accounting for 34.7% of all cases. Five offenses committed while under the influence of narcotics were also identified.

By location, roads accounted for the largest share, with 556 incidents (46.6%). Of these, 420 occurred on pedestrian routes, including alleyways. They were followed by 107 incidents at residences, 58 at cultural and sports facilities such as performance venues, and 52 at shops.

The law criminalizing the possession of weapons in public places stipulates that anyone who, without a legitimate reason, possesses or displays a weapon in a public place such as a road or park and causes fear or anxiety is subject to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won.

“People are repeatedly being threatened with weapons on roads and in alleyways they use every day,” Kim said. “The police should analyze actual crime patterns and strengthen patrols and on-site responses in places and situations where offenses are frequent.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.