Image created by AI/ChatGPT
SEOUL, April 18, (Korea Bizwire) — A series of attempted child abductions reported near elementary schools in Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district has sparked growing concern among parents and prompted increased police surveillance, authorities confirmed on Friday.
On April 17, 2025, police received a report that an unidentified man approached a student near A Elementary School in Yeoksam-dong, offering a drink and allegedly attempting to lure the child away. The school later issued a letter to parents confirming the incident and warning of similar attempts reported by other families.
“We are receiving calls from parents about individuals trying to lure children by offering drinks,” the letter read. “Please remind your children never to go anywhere with anyone, even if they are familiar, without parental permission.”
In response, the school has requested additional patrols and is working with police to obtain and distribute a composite sketch based on CCTV footage.
Police from the Suseo Precinct said they are receiving a surge in related reports, including calls referencing rumors and alleged sightings. “There has been a series of reports following talk of attempted kidnappings,” a spokesperson said.
Just two days earlier, on April 16, a second-grade student from B Elementary School in Gaepo-dong, roughly 2.3 kilometers from the first incident, was also reportedly targeted.
Seoul Suseo Police Station. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The child was returning from school when an elderly man at a bus stop allegedly grabbed the student’s backpack and said, “This is mine.” The student managed to escape and later reported the incident with his parents.
Police are reviewing security camera footage from the area to track down the suspect.
B Elementary School has since requested the installation of additional security cameras and more frequent police patrols. In a letter to parents, school officials emphasized the importance of teaching children how to respond to strangers during commutes.
Reports of past incidents, including children being offered snacks by strangers, have further heightened parental anxiety. One school official noted a flood of phone calls from concerned parents urging tighter campus security.
The recent reports have revived memories of a shocking 2023 case in Daechi-dong, just 1.6 kilometers from B Elementary School, where a group disguised a methamphetamine-laced drink as a “concentration booster” and distributed it to students.
Nine minors consumed the drug-laced beverage before the perpetrators attempted to extort their parents. The ringleader, a 28-year-old man, was sentenced to 23 years in prison in late 2024 and is currently awaiting a final Supreme Court ruling.
With tensions rising, police and school officials across Gangnam are urging vigilance and increased coordination to protect students during school commutes.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
