Individual donning a counterfeit police uniform, armed with a pistol procured online, traverses public areas
In an unusual incident that took place on the Seoul subway's Gyeongui Line, a man in his 50s has been charged for wearing a fake police uniform and carrying fake weapons. The incident occurred at Korea Aerospace University Station in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, around 10:56 p.m. on June 27.
The suspect, who is a member of a local community for cosplay, was dressed in clothing resembling Korean police uniforms, including a jacket and a hat design worn by police conscripts. However, his uniform did not have a name tag or rank insignia, as required by the Police Uniforms and Equipment Regulation Act.
The suspect's use of fake weapons made of plastic likely violated additional regulations regarding the carrying of weapons in public. South Korea has a law that prohibits non-police officers from wearing equipment or garments similar to official police gear.
The suspect purchased the fake police uniform and equipment from an online store based outside South Korea. While the specific penalty for violating the Police Uniforms and Equipment Regulation Act in South Korea, including wearing clothing similar to police uniforms (such as in cosplay or for other purposes), is a fine of 500,000 South Korean won, the penalty for carrying fake weapons is not explicitly detailed in the sources found.
Regarding fake weapons, South Korea has strict regulations on impersonation of police or military personnel, which includes wearing official uniforms and displaying or carrying fake police equipment or firearms. Violations related to this type of impersonation usually result in fines or criminal charges, depending on severity and intent, but the exact fines or penalties are not detailed in the provided sources.
The suspect's actions may have caused public alarm, as the incident occurred in a public place. The incident has led to increased scrutiny of cosplay activities involving replicas of police uniforms and equipment in South Korea.
The suspect was reported by a citizen at Korea Aerospace University Station and has been charged for violating the Police Uniforms and Equipment Regulation Act. His case has been transferred to the prosecution without physical detention.
- This incident involving a man wearing a fake police uniform on the Seoul subway has sparked a discussion about the regulation of cosplay activities that replicate police uniforms and equipment in South Korea, falling under the category of policy-and-legislation.
- The strict South Korean regulations on impersonation of police or military personnel, including wearing official uniforms and displaying or carrying fake police equipment or firearms, also encompasses the politics and crime-and-justice sectors, as demonstrated by the recent case of a man charged for wearing a fake police uniform and carrying fake weapons on a public transit system.
