"Please Put Out Your Cigarette at the Playground," Neighbor Grabs Father of 21-Month-Old by the Collar and Assaults Him

[Financial News] A father holding his 21-month-old child was reportedly assaulted after asking a man who was smoking near a playground in an apartment complex not to smoke.

On the 2nd, JTBC's 'Sageonbanjang' featured the story of A, a man in his 30s who lives in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.
On August 25, A visited the playground in his apartment complex with his wife and their 21-month-old child. At the time, a neighbor's grandmother and her 23-month-old granddaughter were also playing there alongside A's family.
A man estimated to be in his 60s or 70s began smoking about 5 meters away. A asked him, "Please go to a designated smoking area," but the man refused, saying, "Where is there such a regulation? Bring me an official document." A then asked again, "The children are inhaling cigarette smoke, so please put out your cigarette," but according to A, the man swore at him and said, "Report me."
Before reporting the man to police, A tried to film him smoking with his cellphone. After noticing this, the man began chasing A while holding the cigarette he had been smoking. A, who was holding his 21-month-old child at the time, ran toward the playground to get away from him.
A explained what happened, saying, "I was holding my child and a cellphone when the man suddenly charged at me. I ran about 200 meters while holding my child, and I kept running in circles around the playground equipment so he wouldn't catch me."
The man eventually caught A inside the playground. A handed the child to his wife, but the man continued attacking him by grabbing his shirt and collar and pushing and pulling him.
A recalled, "Even if I was stronger, I couldn't just hurt an elderly man, could I? I could only defend myself, so I kept pulling and pushing him. Then he pushed me and knocked me down, but he still held me by the collar and wouldn't let go even after I fell."
A neighboring resident approached and tried to stop the fight, but the man reportedly continued holding onto A's clothes and would not let go.

A resident at the scene called the police. Before officers arrived, the man asked which building A lived in and allegedly threatened him, saying, "You said you live in Building XXX, right? I'll set your house on fire."
A went to the hospital the next day and was diagnosed with sprains to his shoulder, lower back and fingers, among other injuries. He was told he needed 20 days of treatment and remained hospitalized for more than two weeks.
Since the incident, A's child has reportedly suffered lasting effects, including waking up startled while sleeping and showing signs of anxiety, such as crying when an older man comes near.
Police booked the alleged perpetrator on suspicion of assault resulting in injury and referred him to prosecutors.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter