Woo Bum-kon was born on November 5, 1955, in Choryang, a district in South Korea. He came from a family where his father was a policeman. Inspired by his father, Woo wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a police officer. He served in the marines, where he was recognized for his skills as a marksman. After his discharge in 1978, he worked as a police officer starting in April 1981.

During his time as a police officer, Woo was able to serve as a guard at the Blue House, which is the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president. However, his career faced challenges due to his heavy drinking. His behavior while intoxicated led to a demotion while he was assigned to Kungyu Village in Uiryeong County.

Critics said Woo struggled with an inferiority complex. His girlfriend mentioned that he was affected by comments from villagers regarding their relationship, as they cohabited. She described him as "a little eccentric."

On the evening of April 26, 1982, Woo Bum-kon returned home after an argument with his girlfriend. He was angry and violent, striking her and damaging their furniture. Afterward, he went to an armory and took several weapons, including carbines, handguns, and grenades.

Around 9:30 p.m., Woo began his attack at the local post office, where he killed three phone operators. He then moved to the marketplace in Torongni, using grenades and gunfire, resulting in six more deaths and injuring his girlfriend, who had come to check on the situation. Woo continued his rampage across different villages, entering homes as a police officer and shooting the residents.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., Woo took a young man named Kim Ju-dong hostage. After forcing Kim to fetch a soft drink, Woo murdered him and then attacked the grocery store owner's family, killing three of them. He went on to kill a total of 18 people in the village of Ungye-Ri.

In Pyongchon-Ni, Woo shot a family of four while they slept. Afterward, he accepted an invitation to dinner from another family, where he killed twelve people after an inattentive comment about his weapons. A total of 24 people died in Pyongchon-Ni alone.

Despite the police being alerted of the shootings soon after they began, it took them a significant amount of time to respond. An hour later, they formed a team to find Woo. Meanwhile, he took refuge in a farmhouse, holding the family inside as hostages.

When the police eventually located him, he detonated grenades strapped to his body, killing himself and three of the hostages. In total, 56 people were killed during Woo Bum-kon’s rampage, with around 35 others injured. This incident led to a significant response from local and national authorities, including resignations and investigations into the police's handling of the situation.

Many years later, a memorial was established in the area to honor the victims of this tragic event.