Man armed with knife who tried to enter cafe says 'I did nothing wrong'

A man in his 40s who threatened passersby with a knife and attempted to force his way into a cafe near Yanghwa Han River Park in Seoul on the last day of the Chuseok holiday now faces a detention ruling.

When asked why he had tried to enter the cafe, he reportedly said, "I didn't do anything wrong."

Seoul Southern District Court Judge Kim Ji-hyun, who handles warrant reviews, presided over a pre-detention hearing for the suspect, identified only as Cheon, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Cheon faces charges of carrying a deadly weapon in a public place.

Cheon arrived at court at around 9:53 a.m. wearing shorts and a black cap. When reporters asked why he had threatened passersby and tried to enter the cafe, he replied, "I didn't do anything wrong."

Cheon is accused of threatening passersby with a knife near Yanghwa Han River Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu at around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.

As Cheon shouted and caused a disturbance, bystanders rushed into a nearby cafe for safety.

Cheon attempted to enter the cafe while still armed, but the cafe owner locked the doors and windows, preventing him from getting inside. The owner immediately called police, and no injuries were reported.

About 15 people, including those who had fled inside, were in the cafe at the time.

Under the criminal code, the charge of carrying a deadly weapon in a public place applies when a person, without justifiable reason, carries and displays a weapon in a public space — such as a road or park — used by an unspecified number of people, causing fear or anxiety among the public.

A conviction can carry a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine of up to 10 million won ($7,350).