"A Man with a Gun on the Subway Turns Out to Be an Actor Holding a Prop"

Punishment Possible if Threatened with a 'Fake Gun'

Recently, a commotion caused by a report that "a man carrying a gun is on Subway Line 4" was revealed to be a misunderstanding involving a theater actor carrying a prop gun.

According to Yonhap News on the 26th, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. on the 20th. Police received a 112 report stating, "A man is on Subway Line 4 carrying a gun," and immediately dispatched officers to track the suspect. The suspect, Mr. A (41), was soon apprehended and was indeed carrying a gun as described by the reporter.

However, the gun was not real but a prop used for theater. Mr. A, a member of a theater troupe, was on his way home on the subway carrying a prop replica gun for use on stage. Citizens who saw it in the same subway car mistook it for a real firearm and reported it to the police.

The prop gun Mr. A carried was made of a metal pipe and looked similar to a shotgun from a distance. Police stated that the gun does not have the function to fire bullets.

Although it was a 'fake gun,' Mr. A could still face punishment. While it is not a weapon capable of causing harm, it could pose a threat to ordinary citizens. Accordingly, the Seongbuk Police Station in Seoul has booked Mr. A on charges of violating the Act on the Control of Firearms, Swords, and Explosives.

The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

A police official told Yonhap News, "Although the gun’s flaws are visible up close, we must consider that citizens would have found it difficult to approach closely to verify it," adding, "We are examining whether the gun’s appearance is sufficiently similar to a real firearm to cause confusion."

There was another recent commotion involving firearms in Seoul. On the 20th, a citizen alarmed by reservists carrying guns walking around downtown Seoul reported it to 112, prompting police to respond. Upon arrival, police confirmed that the individuals were reservists undergoing operational planning training at the nearby Yeongdeungpo-dong Community Center and then withdrew.

A representative of the reservist unit explained, "They judged that it was appropriate to carry firearms anytime and anywhere if it were a real situation, so they carried guns. The reservists followed this guideline and ate at a designated restaurant under the supervision of their leader."

Meanwhile, when carrying toy guns or replica guns, it is required to attach 'color parts' made of brightly colored plastic components such as orange, yellow, or blue. Even if it is a BB gun or a survival game gun, removing the color parts or painting it to resemble a real firearm can result in punishment. It is known that the prop gun Mr. A carried did not have any color parts attached.