"Don't Cross Your Legs!" Man Assaults Woman on Subway and Flees... Police Late in Pursuit

Investigation Hampered as CCTV Footage Deleted Due to Delayed Designation of Jurisdiction Office

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Police have launched a manhunt for a man who assaulted a female passenger for crossing her legs on the subway and then fled.

On the 25th, the Guro Police Station in Seoul announced that they are pursuing a man, identified as B, suspected of assaulting a woman, A, sitting next to him on the Sinjeong Branch Line train of Subway Line 2. B is estimated to be in his 20s to 30s, and the police are tracking him based on footage captured by closed-circuit television (CCTV).

According to the police, B is accused of provoking a dispute and punching the shoulder of the woman sitting next to him on the Sinjeong Branch Line train heading from Sindorim Station to Dorimcheon Station on Subway Line 2 at around 5:30 p.m. on the 19th of last month because she crossed her legs.

At the time, A moved to the front car of the subway to avoid B and later reported the incident to the Yangcheon Police Station in Seoul.

However, while investigators at Yangcheon Police Station delayed the case for more than 15 days, the CCTV footage showing B exiting the train and fleeing was deleted, causing difficulties in the investigation. According to regulations, CCTV footage at subway stations is retained for 'at least 7 days and up to 30 days,' usually stored for about two weeks.

Subsequently, the case was transferred from Yangcheon Police Station to Guro Police Station, and the police have secured footage of B boarding the subway at Seocho Station and are currently tracking his whereabouts.