[Seoul, Now] 'Korean-Style Bladed Weapon Return System' Thwarted by Conflict Between Dongjak District Office and Council

From Random Stabbing Attacks to a Japanese Sword Murder Case
Aiming to Reduce Bladed Weapon Crimes
with a Budget Less Than the Fee for a Festival Guest Singer

The police's efforts to prevent crime and raise public awareness by implementing a policy to encourage the voluntary return of bladed weapons, which can be used as murder weapons, were thwarted due to procedural disputes between the district office and the district council.

Seoul Dongjak District Office and Dongjak Police Station attempted to introduce a ‘Korean-style Bladed Weapon Return System’ through an ordinance amendment, but some members of the Dongjak District Council opposed the ordinance approval, criticizing the district office for issuing a press release as if the decision had been finalized when it had not been approved by the council. These council members strongly criticized the district office’s handling of the matter, calling it a disregard for basic procedures and the council.

At the end of July, a shocking incident occurred in front of the main gate of an apartment complex in Eunpyeong District, where a man in his 30s stabbed and killed a resident of the same complex with a 105 cm-long Japanese sword. This incident followed a series of random stabbing attacks targeting unspecified individuals. Immediately after this incident, Dongjak Police Station proposed the idea of creating a ‘Korean-style Bladed Weapon Return System.’

The plan involves providing approximately 100,000 KRW in local currency, Dongjak Sarang Gift Certificates, to individuals who voluntarily return ‘authorized’ bladed weapons such as Japanese swords, Joseon swords, spears, as well as knives like jackknives and daggers. The idea was inspired by Canada and New Zealand’s gun buyback programs and the domestic system for surrendering driver’s licenses by elderly drivers.

In 2020, after a mass shooting in Nova Scotia, Canada, which resulted in 22 deaths, the Canadian government banned private ownership of firearms capable of mass killing and initiated a gun buyback program. In South Korea, as traffic accidents caused by elderly drivers increased, a voluntary driver’s license surrender system has been in place since 2019. Drivers aged 70 or older residing in Seoul who voluntarily surrender their licenses receive a 100,000 KRW prepaid transportation card. Although participation rates have been criticized as low, the system is positively evaluated for encouraging responsible driving culture through voluntary participation by elderly drivers.

The ‘Korean-style Bladed Weapon Return System’ was designed with consideration for crime prevention, campaign effects, and nationwide expansion. There are 614 authorized bladed weapons registered to 437 individuals in Dongjak District, but since not all would voluntarily return their weapons, the estimated annual budget needed was about 10 to 19 million KRW.

However, at the end of August, the ordinance amendment proposed by Councilor Kim Young-rim titled ‘Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on Crime Prevention and Victim Support for Abnormal Motive Crimes in Dongjak District, Seoul’ faced opposition for reasons such as ‘returning bladed weapons is unlikely to reduce abnormal motive crimes,’ ‘the return criteria are ambiguous,’ and ‘it is a waste of tax money.’ Behind the opposition was a backlash against the district office’s announcement as if the matter had been finalized while it was still under review. Ten days after the Eunpyeong bladed weapon incident, the district office released a statement titled ‘Dongjak District Implements the Nation’s First Bladed Weapon Return Support System.’ There was no prior consultation with the police, who were also discussing the related matters.

Nonetheless, it cannot be questioned whether the policy to foster a voluntary return atmosphere for bladed weapons and to actively encourage returns and awareness of their dangers is unnecessary for residents. The related budget is far less than the appearance fee of a single famous invited singer performing at a local festival stage. The district office needs to follow proper procedures and order of operations, and the district council must make a magnanimous decision for the benefit of the residents.