Shocking Birthday Tragedy: Father Kills Son with Homemade Gun in Incheon Songdo Apartment

The Shocking Birthday Tragedy That Stunned South Korea

On July 20, 2025, what was supposed to be a joyful birthday celebration in Songdo, Incheon, turned into one of South Korea's most shocking domestic tragedies. A 63-year-old father, identified only as Mr. Cho, fatally shot his 33-year-old son with a homemade shotgun during a family gathering held in honor of the father's birthday. The incident occurred at approximately 9:31 p.m. in an apartment complex in Songdo International City, leaving the victim's wife, two young children, and family friends as horrified witnesses to the unthinkable act.

The tragedy unfolded when Cho excused himself from the birthday party, claiming he was going to a convenience store. Instead, he retrieved a pipe-form homemade firearm from his rental car and returned to fire three shots - two striking his son in the chest and one hitting the apartment door. The weapon, constructed from metal pipes and filled with small metal pellets, proved devastatingly effective. Despite being rushed to the hospital, the victim was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

What makes this case particularly disturbing is the premeditated nature of the attack. According to the victim's mother, this was not a spontaneous act of violence but a carefully planned execution carried out in front of innocent family members, including young grandchildren who will carry these traumatic memories for life.

A Father's Dark Preparation: The Arsenal Discovery

The true extent of Cho's deadly preparations became clear only after his arrest. When police apprehended him at 12:15 a.m. on July 21 in Seoul's Bangbae neighborhood, they discovered he had been planning far more than just the murder of his son. A search of his vehicle revealed nine additional homemade gun barrels and raw materials for weapon construction. But the most chilling discovery awaited investigators at his apartment in Seoul's Dobong District.

Police found 15 explosive devices strategically placed throughout his residence, with flammable liquids contained in plastic bottles and equipped with timers set to detonate at noon on July 21. The sophistication of these devices prompted the immediate evacuation of 105 residents from the building while bomb disposal experts worked to safely neutralize the threat. During questioning, Cho revealed his sinister reasoning: he had installed the explosives because he wasn't planning on returning home, setting the timers for noon to minimize damage to other residents.

This discovery transformed what initially appeared to be a domestic dispute into something resembling a planned terrorist attack. The fact that Cho had prepared multiple weapons and explosives suggests he may have intended to cause even greater carnage, raising questions about how one individual could amass such a dangerous arsenal without detection.

The YouTube Tutorial Connection: A Digital Age Nightmare

Perhaps the most unsettling aspect of this case is how Cho acquired the knowledge to construct his deadly weapons. During police interrogation, he admitted to learning firearm construction techniques by watching tutorial videos on YouTube. This revelation has sparked widespread concern across South Korea about the accessibility of dangerous content on popular video platforms.

A simple search using keywords like DIY gun or homemade pistol reveals numerous videos demonstrating weapon construction using readily available materials such as steel pipes, metal rods, and even cardboard. These videos, often disguised as educational or experimental content, provide detailed explanations covering everything from operating principles to specific blueprints that can be created using 3D printers. Some even include instructions for making explosives, creating a dangerous repository of information that can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection.

The ease with which Cho accessed this information highlights a significant regulatory gap in South Korea's approach to controlling dangerous online content. Unlike traditional weapons, which are heavily regulated and difficult to obtain, the knowledge and materials for creating homemade firearms are readily available, creating what experts describe as a new category of security threat that existing laws struggle to address.

Family Conflict or Calculated Murder: Unraveling the Motive

While initial reports suggested that family discord was the primary motive behind the shooting, a more complex picture has emerged through testimonies from surviving family members. Cho's ex-wife, who had divorced him 25 years earlier due to his behavior, including a 1999 conviction for rape causing injury, has vehemently disputed claims that recent family conflicts triggered the attack.

According to her account, she and Cho had maintained a common-law relationship even after their divorce until their son's marriage in 2017. They had deliberately concealed their divorce from their son to avoid causing him emotional distress, asking him not to react when they finally revealed the truth after his wedding. The victim's mother emphasized that there had been no recent conflicts and that the only interaction leading up to the tragedy was the birthday invitation itself.

The ex-wife's testimony paints a picture of a premeditated attack rather than a crime of passion. She described how Cho attempted to kill not just his son but also tried to shoot the daughter-in-law and grandchildren, only failing due to mechanical issues with his homemade weapon. This calculated attempt at mass family annihilation suggests deeper psychological issues than simple family discord, raising questions about whether warning signs were missed or ignored.

Community Shock and Online Reactions: A Nation Grapples with Domestic Terror

The Songdo shooting has sent shockwaves throughout South Korean society, with online communities expressing disbelief and horror at the unprecedented nature of the crime. On popular forums like DC Inside and Nate Pann, users have struggled to comprehend how a father could commit such an act against his own family. Many comments reflect a sense of betrayal of fundamental family values that remain central to Korean culture.

Positive reactions have been virtually non-existent, with the overwhelming community response being one of condemnation and sympathy for the surviving family members, particularly the young children who witnessed their grandfather murder their father. Users on Instiz and The Qoo have focused their anger on the accessibility of weapon-making tutorials online, with many calling for stricter regulation of such content.

The incident has also sparked broader discussions about domestic violence and mental health support systems in South Korea. Many netizens have expressed frustration that existing systems failed to identify and intervene before Cho's violent tendencies escalated to mass murder. Comments frequently emphasize the need for better family counseling services and more robust background checks for individuals with criminal histories like Cho's previous sexual assault conviction.

Legal Proceedings and Institutional Response: Seeking Justice

The legal system has moved swiftly to address this unprecedented case. On July 22, Incheon District Court Judge Yoo A-ram issued an arrest warrant for Cho, citing concerns about potential evidence tampering and flight risk. He faces charges of murder, violation of the Act on the Safety Control of Firearms, Knives and Explosives, and attempted arson of an occupied building. Notably, Cho chose not to appear at his detention warrant hearing, perhaps recognizing the futility of his situation.

During police questioning, Cho has remained largely uncooperative, providing only minimal information about his motives. When pressed for details, he reportedly told investigators, There were family conflicts. Don't try to understand, refusing to elaborate further. This lack of cooperation has frustrated investigators who are working to understand how to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The case has also prompted calls for legislative action to address the online availability of weapon construction tutorials. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern about copycat crimes, particularly given the detailed media coverage of Cho's methods. However, regulating such content presents significant challenges, as it often appears on international platforms beyond South Korean jurisdiction.

The Broader Implications: Homemade Weapons as a Growing Threat

The Incheon shooting represents more than just an isolated family tragedy - it highlights a growing security concern that extends far beyond South Korea's borders. The proliferation of online tutorials for creating improvised weapons has created what security experts describe as a democratization of violence, where individuals with no prior weapons experience can quickly acquire deadly capabilities.

This incident has exposed significant gaps in South Korea's security infrastructure, which has traditionally focused on conventional threats rather than homemade weapons created by individual actors. The fact that Cho was able to construct multiple firearms and explosive devices without detection raises questions about surveillance systems and the effectiveness of existing threat assessment protocols.

For foreign observers, this case offers important insights into how technological advancement can create unexpected security vulnerabilities. The same platforms that provide educational content and foster creativity can also serve as training grounds for those with malicious intent. As South Korea grapples with this new reality, other nations may need to examine their own regulatory frameworks and consider how to balance free access to information with public safety concerns.

The tragedy in Songdo serves as a sobering reminder that in the digital age, the line between information and weapon has become increasingly blurred, requiring innovative approaches to prevention and intervention before other families suffer similar devastating losses.