Police Officer Justified in Shooting Suspect During Knife Attack in Gwangju

In a recent incident in Gwangju, South Korea, a police officer was justified in using lethal force against a 50-year-old man who attacked him with a knife. The Gwangju Police Agency announced on March 27, 2025, that the officer's actions were deemed lawful self-defense.

The event unfolded on February 26 at approximately 3:08 AM in a back alley on Geumnam-ro, where Officer A, a member of the Dongbu Police Station, was attacked by the suspect, identified as Mr. B. Despite being rushed to the hospital after being shot, Mr. B succumbed to his injuries.

The investigation revealed that Officer A had responded to a report at around 3:03 AM regarding a suspicious man entering a building. Upon locating Mr. B at 3:07 AM, Officer A instructed him to stop. However, Mr. B brandished a 36 cm knife and lunged at Officer A, injuring him on the left cheek. In response, Officer C, who accompanied Officer A, deployed a Taser, but it was ineffective due to Mr. B's thick winter clothing.

As Mr. B continued his assault, Officer A fired a warning shot at approximately 3:08:30 AM and ordered Mr. B to surrender. When Mr. B did not comply and continued to advance, Officer A discharged his firearm three times, hitting Mr. B twice in the upper body, which led to his death.

The police reviewed whether Officer A had violated any regulations regarding the use of firearms, which state that officers may use lethal force in the event of a deadly attack, although they should aim for non-lethal areas when possible. The Gwangju Police Agency concluded that given the circumstances of the attack, Officer A's use of his weapon was justified.

Authorities noted that Officer A was still under threat at close range, making it difficult to aim accurately. Following Mr. B's death, the police decided not to pursue charges against him due to the lack of prosecutorial grounds.