Man arrested for threatening pedestrians with weapon at Han River park during Chuseok holiday

A man who threatened pedestrians with a weapon near a Han River park on the final day of the Chuseok holiday has been detained.

Judge Kim Ji-hyeon of Seoul Southern District Court issued an arrest warrant for the man, identified only by his surname Cheon, after conducting a pretrial detention hearing beginning at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The judge cited a risk of flight as grounds for the warrant. Cheon, who is in his 40s, faces charges of carrying a weapon in a public place.

Appearing at the hearing, Cheon denied the charges, saying he had done nothing wrong.

Cheon is accused of brandishing a weapon and shouting at pedestrians near Yanghwa Han River Park in Yeongdeungpo-gu on Sunday afternoon. Bystanders fled to a nearby café, and when Cheon attempted to enter, the owner locked the door. No injuries were reported.

The Yeongdeungpo Police Station had applied for the arrest warrant on Monday morning.