"Why Report?" 20s Man Arrested on Charges of Kidnapping Ex-Lover

Cutting the Smartwatch Provided to the Victim

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A man in his 20s was arrested on charges of kidnapping and confinement of his ex-lover for reporting him to the police.

The Seoul Gwanak Police Station announced on the 12th that they have arrested and are investigating a man in his 20s, Mr. A, on charges of joint confinement under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts. A friend, Mr. B, who provided a vehicle and participated in the crime, was also apprehended by the police on the same charges.

According to the police, at around 1:50 a.m. that day, they went to the victim’s home in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, saying, "I will go get the luggage I left behind."

They pulled the victim out, who had briefly opened the front door to hand over some items, and locked her in the vehicle. During this process, they cut the victim’s smartwatch with scissors and threw it into a nearby flower bed. This watch had been issued by the police two days earlier after the victim reported Mr. A for dating violence.

Afterwards, they drove the victim for about 40 minutes toward Gwanak-gu, Seoul. It was investigated that Mr. A questioned the victim inside the vehicle about why she reported him for dating violence.

The Gangnam Police Station, which received a direct report from the victim, requested a joint investigation with nearby police stations. At around 2:46 a.m., just an hour later, Mr. B was arrested on a road in Bongcheon-dong. Mr. A was also caught about 30 minutes later in a residential area of Bongcheon-dong.

Immediately after the kidnapping, the Gangnam Police Station received a direct report from the victim and tracked the vehicle’s movement route. They then requested a joint investigation with nearby police stations.

The police arrested Mr. B on a road in Bongcheon-dong at 2:46 a.m., just an hour after the incident. Mr. A was apprehended about 30 minutes later in a residential area of Bongcheon-dong.

The police plan to investigate the exact facts and consider applying for an arrest warrant.