Father Arrested After Shocking Shooting of Son in South Korea High-Rise

A shocking domestic shooting in South Korea over the weekend ended with a man dead, his father in custody, and a bomb squad evacuating dozens from a Seoul apartment building.

On Sunday night around 9:30 p.m., police in Incheon received an emergency call reporting that a man had shot his own son in a high-rise residential complex in Songdo International City, a modern waterfront district west of Seoul.

According to the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station, the victim, a man in his 30s, was rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest but did not survive.

The suspect, identified only as a man in his 60s and confirmed to be the victim’s father, fled the scene with the homemade firearm he allegedly used. Seoul police later apprehended him at approximately 12:20 a.m. Monday in the city’s Gangnam district, about 30 kilometers away, following a three-hour manhunt.

During questioning, the suspect informed police that he had also placed an explosive device in his residence in Dobong district, northern Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency reported that 105 residents were evacuated as the bomb squad searched the building. They successfully located and safely removed a makeshift explosive composed of accelerants and a timer.

Photos circulated online showed police tactical units and ambulances stationed outside the apartment complex in Songdo, initially sparking concerns of a mass shooting. Authorities later clarified that there was only one victim and no additional injuries.

Gun violence remains exceptionally rare in South Korea, where private ownership of firearms is strictly regulated. The use of a homemade weapon and the presence of an explosive device have raised alarm among both officials and the public.

Law enforcement officials stated that the suspect is in custody and under investigation for murder and possession of illegal weapons.