'Protecting My Body'... Seeking Self-Defense Items After Knife Attack Incident

Naver Shopping Self-Defense Products Search Ranking Up
Pepper Spray, Self-Defense Sticks, Electric Shock Devices, etc.

In the bustling area of Sillim-dong, Seoul, a man in his 30s who carried out a 'random stabbing' has been arrested, leading to a sharp increase in citizens seeking self-defense products.

This photo is not directly related to the content of the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

According to Naver Shopping on the 24th, the most searched term among women in their 20s to 40s and men in their 20s to 50s on the 22nd was 'self-defense products.' Among teenage males, it ranked second, and among teenage and women in their 50s, it ranked third.

Items such as pepper spray that emits tear gas, foldable self-defense sticks, and stun guns were among the top searches. In particular, pepper spray ranked 4th among the 'most purchased products' on Naver Shopping overall.

This appears to reflect a growing atmosphere where individuals want to protect their own safety following the daylight 'random stabbing' incident in a busy area.

Previously, Jo (33), who indiscriminately attacked strangers with a weapon in Sillim-dong, Seoul, killing or injuring four people, was arrested by the police.

Jo is suspected of wielding a weapon around 2:07 PM on the 21st in an alley near Exit 4 of Sillim Station on Subway Line 2, killing a man in his 20s and injuring three other men. Jo was arrested as a suspect at 2:13 PM, just six minutes after the first attack, while sitting on the stairs in front of a nearby sports center. Jo is known to have three prior convictions and has been sent to the juvenile court 14 times.

Jo Mo, who indiscriminately wielded a weapon against pedestrians in a shopping alley near Sillim Station, is being transported by a police escort vehicle from the Seoul Gwanak Police Station to the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 23rd to undergo a pre-arrest detention hearing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding his motive, Jo reportedly stated, "I live unhappily, so I wanted to make others unhappy as well, and I committed the crime in a fit of rage."

As this news spread, citizens' anxiety has increased. One netizen said, "There have been so many scary incidents lately that I feel the need to buy simple self-defense products," adding, "At least minimal defensive tools are necessary for myself." Another netizen said, "The world is so dangerous and scary," and added, "I think I should buy pepper spray for my children."

Professor Kwak Dae-kyung of Dongguk University's Department of Police Administration said, "It is true that it is difficult to prevent this kind of incident institutionally," adding, "It would be good to have a system or institution that can pre-select and block people who pose a crime risk, but realistically, individuals protecting and defending themselves is the primary solution."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.