Korean man, 63, allegedly shoots & kills son at birthday party son organised for him

A 63-year-old Korean man allegedly shot and killed his son during his own birthday celebration in an apartment in Seoul, Korea.

He also allegedly planted a makeshift bomb in his own residence.

Son had organised a birthday party for him

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, the victim had organised a birthday celebration for his father at his apartment.

Several family members were present at the party, including the victim's wife, two grandchildren and other acquaintances.

Victim sustained several gunshot wounds

Korea JoongAng Daily reported the police in Incheon, Seoul, received a call for assistance at around 9:30pm local time on Jul. 20.

The call reported that a man had shot his own son in an apartment in Songdo International City, a district west of Seoul.

It is believed that the victim's wife is the one who called the police, saying that her father-in-law had shot her husband.

Upon arriving at the scene, responding officers found the victim collapsed with several gunshot wounds.

The victim was transported to a hospital but later died.

Suspect fled after shooting son

The suspect fled the scene after allegedly shooting his son but was eventually arrested at around 12:20am on Jul. 21 in Gangnam, Seoul, following a three-hour manhunt, The Korea Herald reported.

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, at the time of the arrest, the suspect was in possession of the homemade firearm he allegedly used to shoot his son.

The firearm was a pipe-shaped homemade shotgun loaded with buckshot, a type of shotgun ammunition.

Installed a bomb in his apartment

Following the arrest, the suspect supposedly revealed to the police that he had planted an explosive device in his home in Dobong-gu district, Seoul.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, as reported in The Korea Herald, 105 residents were evacuated from the apartment complex as the bomb squad searched the building.

They later found and safely defused a makeshift explosive comprising gasoline, thinner, ignition components and a timer.

The timer had been set for noon on Jun. 21, but the police managed to intervene seven hours in advance, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.

Upon further investigation, 14 additional explosives were uncovered in the residence, along with containers of flammable liquids and other ignition devices.

Investigations are ongoing

The Korea Herald reported that it remains unclear as to whether the suspect built the gun himself or obtained it elsewhere.

Authorities have sent the firearm and explosive materials to the National Forensic Service to determine their origins and method of assembly.

A police official stated that investigations regarding "the production of both the firearm and explosive, as well as the motive behind the crime" are ongoing.

During questioning, the suspect supposedly told police he had learned how to make the firearm on YouTube, and claimed he obtained the ammunition from someone else.

He also supposedly cited "longstanding family conflict" as a motive.

According to Korea JoongAng Daily, neighbours reported that they frequently heard arguments between the suspect and the victim.

Residents of the apartment complex the suspect lived in described him as someone who used to greet the neighbours, but had become withdrawn over the past few years.

The case comes as a shock as gun violence is rare in South Korea, where the private ownership of firearms is strictly regulated.

The suspect currently remains in custody and is under investigation for murder and weapons violations.

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