View of the Yongsan Presidential Office. /Courtesy of News1

A man who claimed to be a survivor of the Sewol ferry disaster was arrested by the police after causing a self-harm incident in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan.

The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul announced on the 2nd that it had arrested a man in his 60s, referred to as Mr. A, on charges of possessing a weapon in a public place around 7 p.m. on the 1st.

At the time, Mr. A caused a commotion near the main gate of the Ministry of National Defense, inflicting injuries on his arm. After a standoff lasting about 20 minutes, the police subdued Mr. A using a taser.

Mr. A reportedly claimed to be a survivor of the Sewol ferry disaster and requested a meeting with the Presidential Office regarding the improvement of treatment for survivors. After receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, he is said to have met with officials from the Presidential Office.

The police took Mr. A home after the investigation and plan to continue further inquiries.

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