Incheon Knife Attacker Subdued by Chair Becomes a Hot Topic; Is There a Special Tool Used in Japan? - Sastama

The scene where citizens used chairs to stop a knife attacker in Incheon is making headlines. We've even covered the 'Sasumata,' a tool used in Japan to subdue armed assailants, all in one go.

Something really terrible happened in Incheon yesterday, didn't it? 😭

In a crowded shopping complex during lunchtime, a man with weapons taped to both hands brandished them indiscriminately.

But there is something else that is even more of a hot topic online right now.

The fact that citizens stopped the criminal with just a single 'chair' before the police arrived It is 🔥

As this news spread "I heard Japan has a tool specifically for situations like this?" There is even talk that...

I will explain everything step by step, from summarizing the case to the story of that tool!

1. How the Incheon Stabbing Incident Happened

인천 칼부림 의자 제압 화제, 일본에서는 쓰는 도구가 따로 있다고? - 사스타마

The incident Around 1:40 PM on October 13, Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon It happened at.

It is a large commercial facility where Homeplus Incheon Guwol branch is located, and it is a building that includes a food court and a CGV movie theater on the 4th floor.

Suspect : 59-year-old male (urgently arrested on suspicion of attempted murder)

injured Total 8 people

seriously injured One woman in her 20s was transported in cardiac arrest after being stabbed near the heart.

Movement path The perpetrator committed the crimes by moving between floors using escalators, and the damage was reportedly greatest in the second-floor food court, which was crowded with lunch customers.

Fortunately, the woman who suffered cardiac arrest regained her pulse after surgery, but there is no news yet regarding her recovery of consciousness. Say so 🙏

They say the rest of them are not in critical condition.

Witnesses reported that the perpetrator swung a weapon at everyone he saw without saying a word.

Given that it has been determined that the backpack contained multiple sharp weapons and even blunt instruments… the indications of a premeditated crime are strong 😨

2. Citizens Blocking with Chairs: A Full Summary of the Subjugation Process

The process of suppressing the stabbing incident in Incheon was just like a movie.

✨ 2nd Floor Food Court

Mr. Na Hyeon-jun (31), who was eating, heard the scream and ran over, only to find the restaurant owner blocking the culprit with a chair.

Mr. Na also joined in holding a chair, and as the number of people blocking him increased to two or three, the culprit took the escalator backward and escaped to the third floor.

I heard that some people were injured even while setting up the barricades. 😢

✨ In front of CGV on the 4th floor

Shin Jung-hyun, a 23-year-old office worker on his way to see a movie with his girlfriend, spotted a criminal driving against the flow of traffic.

Thinking that "it is dangerous for the children and people if I go up to the fourth floor," he picked up a backless chair and threw it over the railing with all his might.

The culprit collapsed on the spot and was pushed down to the third floor along the descending escalator.

✨ Final subjugation of the 3rd floor

Mr. Na and two other men pinned the suspect down with a chair and handed him over to the responding police.

It was as if citizens were blocking the way from both above and below at the same time, so the culprit couldn't get to the fourth floor.

It could have been even more dangerous, especially since there is a kids' cafe on the upper floor. Netizens are also saying it is a great relief that major damage was prevented.

Mr. Shin reportedly said calmly, "I did it because I wanted to live"... They are true heroes 🥹

3. Was he wearing an electronic ankle monitor? Suspect's criminal record

The shocking thing is that the suspect was wearing an electronic ankle monitor.

Attempted murder in 2005, 2 years and 6 months in prison, 3 years suspended sentence

Violation of the Act on Punishment of Acts of Violence in 2008, 1 year and 6 months in prison, suspended for 3 years

Attempted murder of ex-wife who refused reconciliation in 2015 4 years in prison

2019~ Start of electronic monitoring (attachment order by 2029)

September 2026: Damaged a sign with a weapon during a one-person protest in front of a hospital; booked for possession of a weapon in a public place.

It is said that on the morning of the incident, he even received addiction counseling, an interview with a probation officer, and a medication test, and even had lunch with the probation officer until around 12:30 PM.

The crime happened just over an hour later 😱

The Ministry of Justice issued an official apology and announced that it would comprehensively review the electronic monitoring system.

Criticism is mounting as it has also come to light that they were not managed as high-risk subjects because there was no recent recidivism.

President Lee Jae-myung also visited the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency that evening and ordered special measures against violent crimes and an inspection of the electronic ankle bracelet management system.

4. Why was the 'chair' particularly effective?

Actually, a chair is considered a pretty useful tool for blocking an opponent wielding a knife. 💡

The four legs block the space for swinging the weapon.

You can maintain a distance greater than your arm's length.

It becomes much more difficult to use a weapon if two or more people push together.

The key point this time was that multiple people blocked it simultaneously, not just one.

and It was Japan's Sasumata that turned this principle into a 'specialized tool'. It is!

5. Japan's weapon subduing tool 'Sasumata'

A sasumata is a restraint stick with a U-shaped loop at the end of a long rod. are you.

At first glance, it kind of looks like Zhu Bajie's spear, haha.

history It is said to be a tool used by police officers since the Muromachi to Edo periods.

old version They say it had thorns and hooks, so it was even lethal.

Modern version A barless duralumin pole has been released, and improved versions that are foldable or can be grabbed around the waist have also been introduced.

arrangement It is often found not only in Japanese police stations but also in schools, shops, and other places.

Hot Cases In late 2023, there was also an incident in Japan where an ordinary store clerk fended off three knife-wielding robbers using a sasumata.

Interestingly, the fire station symbol on Japanese maps is also said to be in the shape of this Sasumata.

They say it is because it was also used when demolishing neighboring houses to prevent the fire from spreading. 🔥

6. Shouldn't our country adopt this as well?

There were also calls to "bring it in" during the 2023 serial knife attack.

However, the assessment is that it is not easy in reality. There are many.

It is long and heavy, making it inconvenient to carry and load into a vehicle.

In a one-on-one situation, you could actually lose control or have it taken against you.

To use it properly, at least 2 or 3 people need to surround it together.

The police have shifted their focus toward reinforcing other equipment, such as Tasers and low-risk handguns.

For reference, while there is a lot of talk online that it was canceled due to opposition from human rights groups, it has been pointed out that no articles supporting this claim have been verified.

Ultimately, the key point is not that it is a 'magical tool that can be easily subdued alone,' but that it exerts its power when multiple people cooperate from a distance.

It was the exact same method and principle that the citizens of Incheon demonstrated with the chairs this time ✨

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Q. When and where did the Incheon stabbing incident occur?

A. It occurred around 1:40 PM on October 13, 2026, at a large commercial facility where Homeplus Incheon Guwol branch is located in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon.

Q. Who subdued the culprit?

A. The restaurant owner and Mr. Na Hyun-jun and others blocked him with chairs on the second floor, and Mr. Shin Jung-hyun threw a chair on the fourth floor to knock it over, after which citizens on the third floor pinned him down and handed him over to the police.

Q. How many victims are there?

A. A total of 8 people were injured, and one woman in her 20s was transported in cardiac arrest but her pulse returned after surgery.

Q. What kind of tool is a sasumata?

A. It is a Japanese restraint tool with a U-shaped loop at the end of a long pole, used to block the movement of an opponent holding a weapon from a distance.

Q. Do Korean police also use sasumata?

A. No. It was not introduced due to inconvenience of portability and weaknesses in one-on-one situations, and the police are moving toward reinforcing other equipment such as Tasers.