Man arrested after threatening five people with knife at Dongtan park

A view of Hwaseong Dongtan Police Station in Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency

A man in his 40s was apprehended early Sunday after brandishing knives and threatening a group of people at Dongtan Lake Park in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province.

Hwaseong Dongtan Police said they detained the suspect on charges of making public threats and are preparing to seek an arrest warrant for attempted murder following further investigation.

The incident occurred around 4:03 a.m. when the man, allegedly intoxicated, approached a group of five men and women in their 20s who were drinking on the deck of a bar near the lakeside commercial area of Dongtan 2 New Town. Witnesses said the man charged at them with a knife, prompting the group to flee in panic.

One of the victims ran into a nearby bar and held the door shut to block the suspect's entry. The suspect chased another person in the group before fleeing the scene on a kick scooter.

Police responded after receiving an emergency report, issuing a “Code Zero” alert — the highest level of urgency in police protocols. Dozens of officers were mobilized to search the park area.

A was apprehended about 30 minutes later, at 4:39 a.m. while riding the scooter. He was found to be carrying three knives at the time of arrest.

Authorities said the man was heavily intoxicated and unable to undergo immediate questioning. He is a Chinese Korean legally in the country on a valid visa and has no prior relationship with the victims.

“We will review CCTV footage and victim statements and plan to seek an arrest warrant after further investigation,” a police official said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.