Soldier sets off stun grenade at restaurant

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, September 24, 2023 | 12:29

Soldier sets off stun grenade at restaurant

Posted : 2011-11-15 18:53

Updated : 2011-11-15 18:53

By Kim Rahn

A staff sergeant on leave detonated a stun grenade used for military training in a bid to draw attention at a pub in Busan, forcing some 200 customers there to evacuate.

Police said Tuesday that the 23-year-old army staff sergeant, surnamed Seong, who was drinking with his friends, set off the grenade in an underground pub in the southeastern port city at around 3:20 a.m.

Seong stole the 5-centimeter-long explosive during a drill in August and smuggled it out of the base Saturday when he went on leave, according to police.

Due to the earsplitting sound, some 200 customers and pub workers fled. No one was hurt and only a dehumidifier in the pub was destroyed.

Seong told police that he let the grenade explode to gain attention from other customers. “He said he was spurred from drinking and he thought detonating the device would add more fun like firecrackers,” a police officer said.

Police will refer the case to the military police.