A 20-Year-Old Soldier Jumps Out of Armored Vehicle and Wields a Weapon... Handed Over to Military Police

Threatened with a Large Sword During Return from Training
Attempted Vehicle Hijacking... One Civilian Injured

In Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, an incident occurred where a soldier returning from a national defense training jumped out of an armored vehicle and threatened the driver with a weapon in an attempt to hijack the vehicle.

According to the police and military authorities on the 27th, at around 8:40 a.m. that day, armored vehicles returning from national defense training were on a road in Jori-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province. While the armored vehicles were stopped due to a traffic jam caused by a minor collision on the road, a 20-year-old Corporal A from the Army armored unit suddenly jumped out of one of the vehicles.

On the morning of the 27th, in Jori-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, active-duty soldier Corporal A, who suddenly jumped out of an armored vehicle, wielded a weapon at civilians, and attempted to hijack a vehicle, is being handed over to the military police.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

After crossing the road, Corporal A approached a stopped car holding a military bayonet and threatened the driver to hand over the car keys. When the driver closed the door and avoided him, Corporal A immediately approached another car. As that car continued straight, Corporal A ran alongside it. Still not giving up, Corporal A then approached a car behind and put his arm through the window to threaten the occupants. That vehicle also started moving, dragging Corporal A several meters with his arm caught in the passenger-side window.

Corporal A attempting to hijack a vehicle [Image source=Yonhap News]

During this incident, one passenger in the vehicle grabbed Corporal A’s arm as he tried to enter the car, resulting in a minor abrasion, but the injury was not serious. Additionally, several vehicles trying to quickly leave the scene in surprise caused minor collisions.

Subsequently, a military official riding in the armored vehicle got out and subdued Corporal A, and the police who arrived after receiving a report arrested him. After investigating Corporal A, the police handed him over to the military police at around 12:40 p.m. When leaving the police station, reporters asked Corporal A questions such as "Was this a planned crime?" and "Was there any abuse within the military?" but he remained silent and was taken into the escort vehicle.

The military authorities stated, "We are cooperating with civilian police to accurately investigate the details of the incident and will take strict action based on the investigation results," adding, "We regret that this incident occurred during training. We extend our deepest condolences to the affected citizens and will actively pay attention to their treatment."