Cheongju teen bitten by cobra he tried to sell is questioned by police
In short
A middle-school student in Cheongju was bitten on the back of the hand on 20 October while taking out a forest cobra he kept, to sell it to another person. He was flown to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital for antivenom treatment, and outlets say his life is not in danger. Police are investigating how he got the animal and whether it was reported, and will decide whether to open a criminal case.
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A middle-school student in Cheongju, identified as A, was bitten on the back of the hand by a forest cobra he kept at an apartment in Seowon District, according to police and fire authorities cited on 22 October. Newsis, citing Cheongju Cheongwon Police, placed the apartment in Sachang-dong. He was taking the cobra out to sell it to another person when he was bitten. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
A showed paralysis symptoms and was taken by helicopter to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital, where he received antivenom treatment. Outlets report his life is not in danger. Hankook Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily place the hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy reported that ambulance crews took him to Chungbuk National University Hospital about 40 minutes after the report. The hospital said it could treat him but could not admit him. Seoul Economic Daily said the emergency situation center then checked 15 hospitals and that a fire agency helicopter moved him at about 02:20 the next day. Dong-A Ilbo gave the same 02:20 time and said he first received emergency treatment at a Cheongju hospital. [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]
Outlets disagree on some details. Kukmin Ilbo, Maeil Business, Chosun Ilbo, Korea Economic Daily, Asia Economy and Seoul Economic Daily give his age as 14, Newsis says he is in his teens, and CBS NoCut News gives 16. Kukmin Ilbo, Newsis and Chosun Ilbo give the time of the report as 11:25 a.m. on 20 October, while Seoul Shinmun, Hankook Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, Asia Economy and Seoul Economic Daily say 11:25 p.m. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
The forest cobra is a designated managed wild animal whose import and keeping are in principle banned. Kukmin Ilbo, Maeil Business, Newsis and Korea Economic Daily distinguish it from the 888 species on a white list that may be traded after a report. A is reported to have obtained the cobra through an online cafe and raised it at home. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
Newsis reported that Cheongju Cheongwon Police is questioning A before formal booking on suspicion of illegally keeping and trading a managed wild animal, in breach of the Wildlife Protection and Management Act. Police are examining how he bought and raised the cobra and whether it was reported, and will then decide whether to open a criminal case. A police official told Hankook Ilbo that the cobra had been sold and was being kept by another person. The official said Cheongju city would take it over and hand it to a specialist body, because keeping it is itself illegal. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The forest cobra is a designated managed wild animal whose import and keeping are in principle banned, so the case raises questions about how it was bought online and traded. Police have not yet decided whether to open a criminal case.
Key facts
- A student identified as A, described as a middle-school student, was bitten on the back of the hand by a forest cobra he kept at an apartment in Seowon District, Cheongju. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
- He was taking the cobra out to sell it to another person when he was bitten. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- He showed paralysis symptoms, was taken by helicopter to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and received antivenom treatment. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
- Outlets report his life is not in danger. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 ]
- He is reported to have obtained the cobra through an online cafe and kept it at home. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
- The forest cobra is a designated managed wild animal whose import and keeping are in principle banned. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Police are checking how he got the cobra and whether it was reported, and will then decide whether to open a criminal case. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A middle-school student was bitten on the back of the hand by a forest cobra he kept, while taking it out to sell it to another person, at an apartment in Cheongju. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
- The student was taken by helicopter to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital and treated with antivenom; outlets report his life is not in danger. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
- The forest cobra is a designated managed wild animal whose import and keeping are in principle banned. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]
- Police will decide whether to open a criminal case after checking how he obtained the cobra. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]
- The student is reported to have obtained the cobra through an online cafe. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 , 9 , 11 ]
Still unclear
- The student's age. Kukmin Ilbo, Maeil Business, Chosun Ilbo, Korea Economic Daily, Asia Economy and Seoul Economic Daily give 14, Newsis says only that he is in his teens, and CBS NoCut News gives 16.
- The time of the 119 report. Kukmin Ilbo, Newsis and Chosun Ilbo say 11:25 a.m. on 20 October; Seoul Shinmun, Hankook Ilbo, Dong-A Ilbo, Asia Economy and Seoul Economic Daily say 11:25 p.m., and CBS NoCut News says night. Korea Economic Daily gives no a.m. or p.m.
- When and how he reached the Armed Forces Capital Hospital. Dong-A Ilbo and Seoul Economic Daily say he was flown there at about 02:20 on 21 October, after earlier treatment elsewhere; other outlets give no such detail.
- Whether the student will face a criminal case. Police have not decided; Newsis says he is being questioned before formal booking.
- Who made the 119 call. Most outlets say the student reported it, while Dong-A Ilbo says the report was that an acquaintance had been bitten.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- A 119 report of the bite was received on 20 October; outlets disagree on whether this was morning or night. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]
- On 21 October the student was moved by fire agency helicopter to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital, according to two outlets. [ 9 , 11 ]
- On 22 October Cheongju Cheongwon Police said it was questioning the student before deciding on a case. [ 3 ]