Police: "Man in Captain America Costume, Former Army Sergeant... Not a US Citizen"

Repeatedly Causes Disturbances Dressed as Captain America
Creates Uproar at Seoul Namdaemun Police Station and Is Detained
Claims to Be a CIA Undercover Agent in Police Statement

A man identified as An (42), who was arrested after storming the Chinese Embassy in Korea and a police station dressed as the Marvel movie character 'Captain America', has had some of his identity revealed. On the 24th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated at a regular press briefing, "(An) is currently not a U.S. citizen. It has been confirmed that he was discharged as an Army sergeant," adding, "We are verifying statements from his family as well as his own." Previously, An claimed to be an undercover (black) agent who worked for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and also asserted that he was a source for a media outlet reporting that "on the day of martial law, martial law troops arrested 99 Chinese nationals at the Election Commission training center."

A supporter of President Yoon Seok-yeol dressed as the Marvel character 'Captain America' is protesting ahead of the '2025 2nd Jeonwin Committee' held on the 10th at the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Recently, An has repeatedly caused disturbances by appearing at rallies supporting President Yoon while dressed in a Captain America costume. On the 10th, the day the National Human Rights Commission passed a resolution emphasizing only the defense rights of President Yoon Seok-yeol and other defendants and suspects in the charge of rebellion, An occupied the Human Rights Commission and arbitrarily controlled and blocked staff and reporters in front of the elevator, shouting insults at Xi Jinping. On the 14th, he attempted to break into the Chinese Embassy in Korea but was apprehended by police officers on site.

Furthermore, on the afternoon of the 20th, An visited Namdaemun Police Station demanding a prompt investigation into himself. When refused, he broke the glass of the police station’s entrance gate and tried to enter, leading to his arrest. Additionally, he claimed to be the source cited in a media report that was accused by the National Election Commission for containing false information about the "arrest of 99 Chinese spies at the Election Training Center." Regarding An, the Cyber Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is currently investigating the case in which the Election Commission filed complaints against the media outlet and its reporter for obstruction of official duties and defamation.

Meanwhile, the police investigating An also questioned a conservative media reporter whom An claimed to be his source. After questioning the reporter from the media outlet, An was also investigated as a witness on the 22nd. The police stated that they are "currently identifying" other sources from the media outlet and will continue the investigation. Amid this, the Seoul Central District Court held a pre-trial detention hearing for An on the 22nd and issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns that he might flee.