The 'Chair Defense' That Stopped a Knife Attack... Experts: 'Don't Confront the Attacker'

"More people could be hurt... Building a preventive system must come first"

Since an incident in Incheon on October 13, in which citizens used chairs to stop a knife-wielding attacker, advice on how to use chairs to fend off assailants and others has been shared on social media (SNS) and elsewhere.

Citizens subdue the knife-wielding attacker in Incheon with chairs. Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.

According to Yonhap News on October 18, tips on what to do when confronted by a knife-wielding attacker have recently spread across online communities and social media. The posts feature videos from China and Taiwan showing people throwing household items such as chairs to knock criminals down, as well as advice on defending themselves with a broad surface, such as the chair back or seat, and then using the legs to pin an assailant's arm.

A short video titled "Surviving with a Chair," posted on the YouTube channel of the Korea Krav Maga Association (KKM) in May, has also drawn renewed attention. The video advises holding the chair with all four legs facing the assailant to protect the torso, then using the chair as a shield while quickly moving to an exit.

Citizens use chairs to subdue the knife-wielding assailant in Incheon. Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency

Experts, however, said that everyday objects such as chairs can serve as shields, but that it is extremely dangerous for untrained members of the public to confront an attacker rashly. Im Juntae, a professor in the Department of Police Administration at Dongguk University, said, "A chair can help maintain distance from an attacker and, if used quickly, can help with defense, even if it is not enough to subdue the person." He warned, however, that "you need enough physical strength to hold your ground or push the attacker away without letting them take the chair from you."

He added, "An untrained person who approaches someone carrying a weapon with a chair in an attempt to subdue them could instead face a new attack from the assailant." He stressed that "if there is no nearby object that could help with defense, leaving the scene is the safest option."

There are also calls for institutional safety nets to take priority, detecting warning signs in advance and preventing crimes, rather than relying on individual citizens' courage or their response after incidents such as knife attacks. In particular, the suspect in the Incheon case, a 59-year-old man identified as Mr. A, had been reported to police six times for incidents including obstruction of business at a hospital and carrying a weapon. A week before the attack, he was also questioned by police on suspicion of carrying a weapon, but the knife attack was not prevented.

Citizens subdue the knife-wielding attacker in Incheon with chairs. Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.

Oh Yunseong, a distinguished professor in the Department of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, said, "If the police are going to increase patrols, they need to set out specific details, such as the duration and methods of implementation." He urged authorities to "treat recurring warning signs as a series of related incidents rather than as isolated cases, and establish a legal framework that enables relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Justice and the police, to share information about warning signs and prevent crimes in advance."

Meanwhile, at around 1:48 p.m. on October 13, Mr. A secured a weapon to both hands with white tape and attacked two women for 10 seconds in the restaurant area on the second floor of the C&C (see&see) building, a large commercial complex in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. Mr. Lee, 35, who was working in the restaurant area, immediately rushed at Mr. A while throwing a nearby tray after seeing a customer fall. A tense one-on-one confrontation ensued. Mr. Lee stood his ground using a chair as protection, while other citizens also helped restrain Mr. A. The citizens also removed the weapon taped to Mr. A's hands.

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