Exclusive CCTV Footage of Yeoksam-dong Arson: "If This Isn't Attempted Murder, What Is?"

[Anchor]

SBS has exclusively obtained CCTV footage capturing the exact moment when a man in his 70s, identified by the surname Lee, set fire to two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, five days ago, injuring 19 people. The video shows Lee searching for someone before setting fire to flammable substances. An official from the patent corporation who decided to release the footage testified that Lee clearly appeared to have the intent to kill.

Sunday's 8 O'Clock News begins with an exclusive report by reporter Im Jihyeon.

[Reporter Im Jihyeon]

This is CCTV footage showing the entrance of a patent law firm office in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul.

It was 11:52 AM on October 20.

Right after a female patent attorney, Ms. A, left the office, the emergency staircase exit door next to the elevator opens, and a man appears carrying containers filled with yellow liquid in both hands.

A short time later, when Ms. A returns to the office, the two stand at the entrance and converse for about 20 seconds.

[Official from the Victim Patent Corporation: He came about four years ago too, around 11:40 to 11:50 AM, right before lunchtime when people are busiest. Like before, he was looking for the business manager he had kept targeting.]

Shortly after, Lee, the serial arsonist in his 70s, tells Ms. A to go inside, puts down one of the containers he was holding on the floor, and pours out the flammable substance.

Without hesitation, Lee ignites the substance with a lighter.

Flames soar instantly, and thick black smoke swallows the entrance of the patent corporation.

[Official from the Victim Patent Corporation: I was working when I heard a pop outside. The ceiling melted completely from the smoke and heat.]

Immediately after the flames surged, Lee disappeared back through the emergency staircase exit door, holding another container of unpoured flammable substance in one hand.

It took just over a minute from the time Lee appeared, set the fire, and left.

On the floor where Lee set the fire alone, 8 people were injured and hospitalized, including 3 who sustained serious injuries.

[Official from the Victim Patent Corporation: Right before Lee set the fire, our female employee closed the door, went inside, and looked right into his eyes, and he just grinned wickedly. Isn't that a devil?]

Afterwards, Lee immediately went to another patent law firm office about 200 meters away and set a fire there, resulting in one patient in cardiac arrest and 10 injuries.

Both places where Lee set fires were the only entrances and exits to the offices, but the police have continued their investigation by detaining Lee solely on charges of arson resulting in injury to an inhabited building.

(Camera: Kim Hyun-sang, Video Editing: Kim Jun-hee, Design: Seo Seung-hyun)

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[Anchor]

As you just saw, the place instantly engulfed in flames was the sole exit of this patent corporation. The victimized employees and their families who met with SBS expressed their outrage, asking, "If this isn't attempted murder, what is?" However, the police have only applied charges of arson resulting in injury to the suspect.

Reporter Kwon Mingyu brings us exclusive coverage next.

[Reporter]

The serial arsonist in his 70s, surnamed Lee, stated two days after the crime that he had no intention to kill anyone.

[Lee / Arson Suspect: I wasn't trying to kill, I just wanted to scare them. It's right here. The fraud going on, you know. I wanted to let the world know...]

Due to these statements from Lee, the police have only applied charges of arson resulting in injury to an inhabited building while maintaining that they are actively reviewing the charge of attempted murder.

[Official from the Victim Patent Corporation: He intended to kill everyone in that building. If this isn't the charge of attempted murder, then it means we aren't considered human.]

Employees who narrowly escaped death and the victims' families vented their fury.

[Wife of the Victim Patent Attorney: How can this possibly not be attempted murder? Even if he threatened people the exact same way a few years ago over the same issue, if this isn't attempted murder, what on earth should be called attempted murder?]

Since that day, the patent attorney husband has been barely maintaining a pulse with mechanical ventilation, but not only his lungs but also his other organs are severely damaged.

[Wife of the Victim Patent Attorney: His clean lungs, which had never touched alcohol or cigarettes, were completely destroyed, and they say they have never seen toxic substances piled up this thick and pitch black at this burn-specialized hospital.]

Employees noted that Lee had come to the office four years ago as well, sprinkling gasoline and making threats, but this time it appeared to be a premeditated act.

[Official from the Victim Patent Corporation: He studied how to make sure no one could escape and everyone would die, bringing and pouring an appropriate amount of thinner or gasoline.]

[YUNHO, Professor Emeritus of Police Administration at Dongguk University: If he just wanted to scare them, he would have poured thinner and shouted, but he didn't do that. Setting fire to the only exit so people cannot escape leaves only one meaning: telling them to die.]

The police plan to deploy profilers soon to intensively investigate Lee's intent to kill and decide whether to apply the charge of attempted murder.

(Camera: Kim Hyun-sang, Video Editing: Kim Yun-seong, Design: Lee Jong-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.