Gangnam Elementary Student Kidnapping Attempt Report Turns Out to Be Simple Misunderstanding

"They Offered a Drink Because He Was Out of Breath"
Police: "No Evidence of a Crime... The Men Were Allowed to Return Home"

A report was filed alleging that men had attempted to kidnap a student on the way home from an elementary school in Gangnam, Seoul, but a police investigation later confirmed that it was a simple misunderstanding.

According to Yonhap News on April 18, the Seoul Suseo Police Station questioned two men on this day who had approached an 8-year-old second-grade male student, referred to as A, near an elementary school in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu.

Seoul Suseo Police Station.

At around 6:20 p.m. on April 16, these men approached A near a large supermarket across from the school and offered, "Would you like me to buy you a drink?" However, it was confirmed that A refused. As a result, anxiety spread among some parents, who became concerned that there may have been an attempt to kidnap an elementary school student on the way to or from school.

However, the police investigation revealed that the men had approached A, who was close to the roadway, in order to warn him that it was dangerous. The men also stated, "We asked if he wanted a drink because he was out of breath and panting." According to the police, another man who was next to the one offering the drink told him, "You shouldn't do that to children because you don't have a friendly appearance."

After reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident, the police stated, "No suspicious criminal activity was identified, and considering their residential circumstances and other factors, we determined there was no evidence of a crime," and allowed the men to return home.

Previously, the school had reported the incident to the police after being informed of the situation by A's family.