On Tuesday, South Korean authorities took a man into custody following an incident in which two police officers were stabbed outside a compound that houses the presidential office in Seoul. The incident occurred at 1:20 p.m., as reported by Yonhap news agency. It was the result of the officers' efforts to subdue a man in his 70s who had been shouting in front of the compound. During the altercation, one officer was stabbed in the stomach, while the other sustained an injury to his left arm. Both officers were subsequently hospitalized for treatment.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed the incident, though it did not provide specific details or comment on any potential motive for the attack that occurred outside the compound. This compound also houses the Ministry of Defence.
Footage broadcast by SBS News showed a man being restrained on the ground, with a knife visible nearby.
The presidential office, where President Yoon Suk Yeol operates, was moved to this location in Seoul's Yongsan district last year from the Blue House, which had served as the presidential residence since 1948. As of now, there has been no official comment from President Yoon's office, and it is uncertain whether he was present in his office at the time of the incident.
The area outside the compound is frequently used for political demonstrations and protests. This year has witnessed multiple stabbing incidents, including one where a man carried out a stabbing spree near Seoul, injuring 14 people, just days after another stabbing attack occurred in Seoul. These attacks were particularly unsettling for South Korea, which had previously been known for its safety record, low murder rate, and strict gun control policies.
