Group of men at Gangmun Beach shoot fireworks toward people on the sand; victim's family says police cited difficulty identifying suspects despite CCTV footage

Image unrelated to article. [AI-generated image]
Image unrelated to article. [AI-generated image]

A visitor at a beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, suffered second-degree burns after a group of men fired fireworks directly at people walking along the shore.

The victim's family filed a police report, but officers said they were unable to identify the suspects despite the presence of closed-circuit television cameras in the area.

According to the online community Bobaedream, a family member identified as A posted a video of the incident Monday along with an account of what happened.

A said his father had been burned by fireworks at Gangmun Beach in Gangneung.

According to A, he was walking along Gangmun Beach with his father on the evening of Oct. 20 when he witnessed three men firing fireworks at low angles toward each other across the sand — not toward the sky or the sea.

Two of the men then directed the fireworks at A's father, burning his hand.

"One of the group told another man to be careful because he was in the military," A said. "We reported it to the police, but were told they couldn't make an arrest because they couldn't identify the other party."

"It's an outrageous situation — they fired fireworks at a person and actually caused burns," he said.

Video shared by A shows two men standing some distance apart, firing fireworks at each other as if shooting guns. The projectiles flew over one man's head or landed in the sand beside him.

Online commenters reacted with frustration. "If police traced nearby CCTV footage using the group's clothing and build, they could track down payment records — it's a matter of will," one wrote. Others said police could find the suspects by checking CCTV at fireworks retailers, adding that "the only one who suffers is the victim" and that officers appeared to be avoiding the work. One commenter said the reckless use of fireworks on beaches was frightening as a parent raising young children.

Under the Act on the Use and Management of Beaches, fireworks are prohibited on beach sand, and violators may be subject to a fine.


jshan@heraldcorp.com