In light of recent knife-related attacks, the concept and application of self-defense have gained significant attention in South Korea.

One such incident in late May saw a man in his 70s attack a shop owner in Daejeon. The assailant allegedly used a knife to attack the victim, who proceeded to defend himself by kicking the attacker and wresting the knife away.

Despite his injuries, the shop owner was later identified by prosecutors as a suspect in an assault case. Such situations have brought to the fore the nuances of “justifiable defense” under South Korea’s legal system.

THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK