Police arrest teenager seen carrying a weapon at a Jeonju playground
In short
Police in Jeonju are investigating a teenage boy on a charge of carrying a weapon in a public place after he was seen walking around a playground in Wansan-gu with a weapon in his pocket at around 5 p.m. on October 7. A citizen who saw the weapon called police, who arrested him at the scene. Police found he did not take out or swing the weapon.
Read the full story 2 min read
Police in Jeonju are investigating a teenage boy, identified only as A, on a charge of carrying a weapon in a public place after he was seen with a weapon at a playground in the city's Wansan-gu district, Yonhap, CBS NoCut News and Newsis reported. The case is being handled by the Jeonju Wansan Police Station. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
A is suspected of walking around the playground with a weapon in his pocket at around 5 p.m. on October 7, according to Yonhap and CBS NoCut News. Newsis placed the playground in Pyeonghwa-dong, Wansan-gu, and described A as a teenage student. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap reported that a citizen saw the weapon sticking out of A's pocket and called police, and that officers who went to the scene arrested him there. CBS NoCut News said he was arrested in the act. Newsis reported that A had been hiding the weapon in his pocket and that a nearby resident reported him after seeing it stick out. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Police found that A did not take out or swing the weapon at the time, Yonhap and CBS NoCut News reported. [ 1 , 2 ]
According to CBS NoCut News, the offence of carrying a weapon in a public place took effect on April 8, 2025. Under it, a person who carries a weapon in a public place and displays it in a way that causes anxiety or fear can face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won, the outlet reported. [ 2 ]
A police official told CBS NoCut News that police were investigating the reason he had the weapon and could not give details because the case was under investigation. Yonhap quoted a police official as saying details could not be confirmed for the same reason, and Newsis said police were investigating the exact reason he was carrying it. Yonhap and CBS NoCut News said police gave the information on October 9, while Newsis said police announced it on October 8. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case is being handled under the offence of carrying a weapon in a public place, which CBS NoCut News reported took effect on April 8, 2025 and carries up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 10 million won. Police have not said why the teenager had the weapon.
Key facts
- The Jeonju Wansan Police Station is investigating a teenage boy, identified as A, on a charge of carrying a weapon in a public place. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A is suspected of walking around a playground in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, with a weapon in his pocket on October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The incident took place at around 5 p.m. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Newsis placed the playground in Pyeonghwa-dong, Wansan-gu. [ 3 ]
- A member of the public who saw the weapon sticking out of his pocket reported it, and police arrested A. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police found that A did not take out or swing the weapon. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Police are investigating why he was carrying the weapon. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A teenage boy is being investigated by the Jeonju Wansan Police Station on a charge of carrying a weapon in a public place. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He is suspected of walking around a playground in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, with a weapon on October 7. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- He was caught after a member of the public saw the weapon and reported it to police. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The incident took place at around 5 p.m. [ 1 , 2 ]
- He did not take out or swing the weapon. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- Why the teenager was carrying the weapon. Police said they are investigating the reason and declined to give details because the case is under investigation.
- When police announced the case. Yonhap and CBS NoCut News said police gave the information on October 9, while Newsis said police announced it on October 8.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- October 7: the teenager is seen walking around a playground in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, with a weapon in his pocket, and police arrest him after a citizen's report. [ 1 , 2 ]
- October 9: Yonhap reports the arrest. [ 1 ]
- October 9: CBS NoCut News reports the arrest and the penalties for carrying a weapon in a public place. [ 2 ]
- October 9: Newsis reports the arrest, placing the playground in Pyeonghwa-dong. [ 3 ]