SEONGNAM, South Korea — A 38-year-old man was taken into police custody for possessing a machete, which he stated was a part of his Halloween costume, according to officials on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the individual dropped the machete while at a bar near Seohyeon Station in Bundang, south of Seoul, on Sunday evening. He retrieved the weapon and left the establishment at 8:22 p.m., at which point the bar's owner noticed the knife and alerted authorities.
Police conducted a search and located the man approximately 30 minutes later. During questioning, he insisted that he was carrying the machete "because it is Halloween."
The suspect was released after his personal information was secured. Police are now planning to further investigate whether the weapon he carried requires formal approval for possession.