An elderly Korean-American couple was assaulted by a homeless man in Seoul International Park in LA Koreatown.
This incident follows a recent petition by dozens of residents to the 10th District Councilmember’s office. Filed last month, the petition demands action on the issue of homelessness around Seoul International Park. This latest event adds to the growing concerns among residents.
According to a report received by the Korea Daily, a homeless man approached a senior Korean-American couple who were out for a walk in Seoul International Park at around 8:30 p.m. on December 12.
The homeless man then kicked a male senior. The senior blocked the kick with his hand, reportedly injuring it in the process. When the senior refused to back down and took a confrontational stance, the homeless man seemed to turn away. Shortly afterward, the homeless man threw a rock at the couple’s backs.
In the CCTV footage released, the suspect was seen entering the park shortly before the incident, squeezing through a small gap in the iron fence along Irolo Street, which borders the park. At the end of the video, the suspect, wearing a red hoodie and blue jacket, returns to the tent but soon leaves again and rides away on a bicycle.
“At that time, I took out my cell phone and threatened the suspect that I would record him, so he backed off,” the senior reportedly told the police, adding, “I felt unsafe because the suspect who returned to the tent seemed to be pulling out a metal-sounding weapon.”
Jungwoo Kim, owner of K Pro Golf, a nearby business that provided CCTV footage to the police, said, “Seoul International Park is used by many residents, but it doesn’t make any sense to manage the park like this. I don’t know why residents have to suffer such anxiety and inconvenience due to the homeless problem.”
On December 13, the Olympic Police Department responded, “It is difficult to get an accurate understanding of the incident because it is not yet under investigation. It will be reported to investigators by the end of December 13.”
According to nearby business owners, the suspect in the case was a homeless man who had been living in a tent at the location. The location has been a source of complaints from residents as four to five homeless people have been living there, causing serious safety and hygiene issues.
Earlier, 60 people, including business owners, building owners, customers, and students in the nearby Chung Ki Wa Plaza, signed a petition to address the issue, which was delivered to the 10th District Councilmember’s office through the Wilshire Center Koreatown Neighborhood Council (WCKNC).
The Korea Daily contacted the 10th District Councilmember’s office about the petition but did not receive a response.
BY SUAH JANG, JUNHAN PARK [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
