[KoreaCase] Woo Bum-kon incident

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The incident occurred in 1982 in the Gyeongsangnam-do Uiryeong-gun Gungnyu-myeon area, involving a shooting spree and mass murder by police officer Woo Beom-gon. It is evaluated as a stark representation of the state of the South Korean police at the time. There was criticism for hiring someone with mental issues as a police officer. While citizens were being shot and seriously injured, the police were enjoying hospitality at a hot spring. Police negligence was rampant, with officers drinking during work hours. Additionally, the police chief was also absent due to hospitality. The management was so lax that the key to the armory was lost, increasing the number of casualties. Instead of trying to catch the perpetrator, the police fled and hid away from the crime scene, and the aftermath of the incident was a complete mess. Despite being a significant event that was once listed in the Guinness World Records, no white paper was compiled. The exact number of casualties was not recorded.

After being transferred to Gungnyu Police Station on December 30, 1981, Woo Beom-gon began living with Jeon Yang on March 9, 1982. However, Jeon Yang's family opposed the cohabitation due to Woo Beom-gon's drinking habits. He became violent when drunk, earning him the nickname "mad tiger." Woo Beom-gon was transferred to Gungnyu Police Station after being demoted for causing trouble. Originally part of the 101 Security Division responsible for guarding the Blue House, he was excluded from that duty due to his rough personality and was transferred to Gungnyu Police Station. Eventually, the two began living together, but Woo Beom-gon developed serious inferiority complexes.



On April 26, 1982, Woo Beom-gon returned home around noon to have lunch and take a nap before his evening shift. While he was asleep, his cohabitant slapped his chest to swat a fly, leading to an argument. Still angry, he went to the police station around 4 PM and returned home drunk around 7:30 PM. In a drunken state, he assaulted his cohabitant, and when local residents, including his cohabitant's cousin, tried to intervene, he left the house again.

Heading to the police station, Woo Beom-gon loaded a carbine, chased away the defense soldiers, and stole two M2 carbines, 144 rounds of ammunition, and seven grenades from the reserve armory. The subsequent criminal acts were as follows:


April 26, 21:40: Shot a man working at a framing shop in Daegu, killing three residents at the Tonggok-ri traditional market.

21:45: Killed two clerks and one mailman at the Gungnyu Post Office.

22:00: Killed four residents in the Maesil village of Apgok-ri and two residents from nearby villages.

22:10: Killed seven residents at the market in Ungye-ri and threw grenades.

22:50: Killed 12 people at a funeral home in Pyeongchon-ri.

On April 27, 05:35, he detonated a grenade in Pyeongchon-ri village, killing five people, and the incident ended with his suicide.


Woo Beom-gon's actions were notorious for indiscriminately killing children and infants. During the incident, a taxi driver warned residents of the danger but was ultimately discovered by Woo Beom-gon and killed.

During Woo Beom-gon's rampage, the police did not respond but rather stood by. The police chief and officers headed to the armory to gather weapons but took the wrong direction away from Woo Beom-gon. Consequently, even after arriving at the crime scene, the police fled instead of capturing the perpetrator. Uiryeong Police Chief Choi Jae-yoon did not arrive at the scene until the next day, and the police remained holed up inside the station. Ultimately, the incident ended with Woo Beom-gon's suicide, and the police did not fire a single shot.

The incident resulted in 62 deaths and 33 injuries. Among the victims, six died while receiving treatment in the hospital. There were 16 victims under the age of 20, including children and infants under 10. The wife of a postal clerk killed at the post office was also murdered by Woo Beom-gon at home. The impact of this incident left deep scars on the local residents.



The negligence of the police and the lack of weapon management exacerbated the incident's consequences. The police station's armory management was so poor that Woo Beom-gon could steal firearms, and since he was wearing a police uniform during the crime, residents did not suspect him and welcomed him. Additionally, the police's lax personnel policies and the incompetence of the police department were significant factors. Despite being a police officer, Woo Beom-gon had mental issues, and the incident escalated due to police negligence.

This incident shocked the nation, and the Chun Doo-hwan regime took responsibility for the event, punishing police officials. The police chief and related personnel were dismissed, and significant compensation was provided to the residents of Uiryeong-gun. After the incident, criticisms regarding the police's security system and weapon management were raised, and the Chun Doo-hwan government quickly responded to quell public sentiment. 

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