"I Didn't Know There Was a Person"... Man in His 20s Shoots Arrow Near Woman Walking Her Dog

Cheongwon Police Investigates Man in His 20s for Aggravated Assault
"Shot at a Tree After Drinking with Coworker, but Missed"
Additional Charges Planned for Drunk Driving

A man in his 20s who is suspected of shooting an arrow near a woman walking her dog in Cheongju reportedly stated that he did not intend to target a person.

On the 7th, an arrow that flew toward a woman in her 50s who was walking with her dog at Cheongju Sangdang-gu Youth Square was seen embedded in the ground. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Cheongwon Police Station in Cheongju on January 15, Mr. A, a man in his 20s who was booked without detention on charges of aggravated assault, told police during questioning, "I did not know there was anyone in that direction when I shot the arrow."

Mr. A and others are suspected of shooting a bow near a woman in her 50s who was walking her dog at Cheongju Sangdang-gu Youth Square at around 11:40 p.m. on January 7. The arrow landed in a flower bed in the square, about 2.5 meters from the woman and about 1.5 meters from the dog. The arrow was approximately 80 centimeters long and was tipped with a metal arrowhead.

Nearby CCTV footage captured them taking a bow out of the trunk of a car parked about 70 meters away and drawing the string. Police investigation revealed that Mr. A, along with Mr. B, a coworker also in his 20s, had been drinking at a nearby restaurant before coming out and shooting the bow.

Mr. B, the owner of the bow, first took it out of his car trunk and fired an arrow at a tree. Subsequently, Mr. A also shot an arrow, which then flew toward the woman who was out walking.

During a recent police appearance, Mr. A reportedly stated, "I aimed the arrow at a tree right in front of me, but it missed," indicating he was unaware that the arrow had flown toward the woman. He also explained that he did not retrieve the arrow because "it was inexpensive, so there was no need to go and get it."

Mr. B, who was also booked without detention as an accomplice to aggravated assault, is believed to have purchased the bow and arrows out of curiosity from an online shopping mall.

Police plan to also charge them with driving under the influence, as they each drove their own cars home after shooting the arrows while intoxicated. In addition, police will continue to investigate whether they actually saw the woman at the time of the incident.