Police Catch Civilian Wearing Military Uniform Roaming Hongdae Street on Halloween

Carrying a Model Gun Around

The Mapo Police Station in Seoul announced on the 29th that they apprehended a man in his 20s, Mr. A, who was roaming the streets wearing a military uniform and carrying a replica gun ahead of Halloween weekend.

Mr. A is accused of wearing a military uniform, carrying a military backpack, and holding a replica gun in the Hongdae Festival Street area of Mapo-gu at around 7:30 PM the previous day, despite not being a soldier (violation of the Military Uniform Control Act).

Under current law, civilians not related to the military who use or carry military uniforms or equipment can be fined up to 100,000 KRW or face detention.

On the 28th, ahead of Halloween Day, citizens are seen passing through Hongdae Street in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The police have applied for a summary judgment against Mr. A. A summary judgment is a simplified trial for minor offenses (fines under 200,000 KRW, etc.) that does not go through formal criminal proceedings and does not leave a criminal record.

In addition to Mr. A, the police identified and issued guidance to seven other citizens who wore military uniforms or carried replica firearms.

The National Police Agency has been monitoring the sale of police uniforms online from the 24th of this month until the 5th of next month, around Halloween, and is intensively cracking down on the sale and wearing of police uniforms.