Visited Right Before Rampage... Why Was the Metal Detector Turned Off?

[Anchor]

Choi Choong-rak, who wielded a weapon in Incheon leaving more than 10 people injured, has been transferred to the prosecution's office. It has been revealed that right before the crime, Choi visited a probation office with a weapon in his bag, but missed the opportunity to be stopped because the metal detector was turned off at the time.

Reporter Kwon Min-gyu has the details.

[Reporter]

A man in gray clothes walks out, held by detectives.

This is the scene of Choi Choong-rak being detained and sent to the prosecution's office for swinging a weapon and injuring 10 people at a commercial complex in Incheon on the 13th.

[Choi Choong-rak / Murder-Attempt / Weapon Rampage Suspect: (The victims are unconscious, do you have anything to say?) I am sorry to the innocent victims.]

Choi had been in conflict with a hospital since last July over side effects from athlete's foot treatment. After holding a one-man protest in front of the hospital, he was investigated by the police on charges of obstruction of business and carrying a weapon in a public place.

According to the police, Choi had been obsessed with delusions that "if the hospital files a damages claim, all of his property will be seized, and he is driven to the edge of a cliff."

On the day of the incident, Choi left home with various weapons packed in his bag, met with his probation officer at the probation office, and even had lunch together.

It was found that although a metal detector designed to detect weapons was installed inside the probation office, it was not working because its power was turned off.

Regarding the reason for choosing the commercial complex as the crime scene, Choi told police that he entered the nearby shopping mall in a rush because he thought the weapon in his bag had been exposed while stopping by his university to submit a leave of absence.

He stated that he entered the mall and committed the crime while his anxiety and nervousness reached their peak, wondering if someone might have reported him to the police.

The police expressed regret, noting that if the metal detector at the probation office had gone off, the weapon might have been confiscated beforehand, but stated that it is difficult to apply charges of dereliction of duty for turning off the metal detector for convenience.

The Ministry of Justice released a statement saying, "The metal detector was frequently turned off due to frequent malfunctions and noise," and added, "We will closely inspect the security equipment and operational status of our offices."

(Video by Yang Hyun-chul, Kim Han-gyul | Video Editing by Kim Jin-won | Graphics by Seo Hyun-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.