Choi Choong-rak, 59, Arrested for Incheon Knife Rampage... Victim's Family Devastated

[Anchor]

The identity of 59-year-old Choi Choong-rak, the suspect behind a knife rampage in Incheon four days ago, has been revealed. Arrested yesterday (October 16), Choi vociferously claimed his grievances while remaining silent on why he targeted innocent citizens in the attack.

Reporter Kim Gyu-ri has the details.

[Reporter]

A man with his face covered by a hat and mask steps out of a police escort vehicle.

This is 59-year-old Choi Choong-rak, who went on a knife rampage at a shopping complex in Guwol-dong, Incheon, on October 13, attending court for his pre-trial detention hearing.

[Choi Choong-rak : (Why did you commit the crime against strangers?) I am sorry. (Do you have nothing to say to the victims?) I have committed a sin punishable by death.]

He explained the 6.8 million won he was carrying at the time of the crime as follows:

[Choi Choong-rak : (Were you trying to run away with 6.8 million won?) No. I wasn't thinking of running away, but pressure was coming in... (What kind of pressure are you talking about?) Because of side effects from hospital treatment, I held a one-person protest for two and a half months, but instead, they were pressing me with a civil lawsuit.]

However, he made no response to reporters' questions asking why he committed such a brutal crime against innocent citizens at the shopping complex while claiming to have a conflict with a hospital.

The victim's family expressed furious grief.

[Victim's Family : While I was on the phone for a brief moment, I witnessed my younger sibling being loaded onto a stretcher. I really just want to ask him properly why he did this.]

The court review concluded in 20 minutes, and the court issued an arrest warrant citing the risk of flight.

The police decided to disclose Choi's personal information following a deliberation committee meeting on identity disclosure.

The police also plan to accelerate investigations to determine the motive and whether it was a premeditated crime, including conducting a search and seizure of his residence soon.

To this end, they plan to question hospital officials mentioned by Choi and a probation officer who was with him right before the crime.

(Camera Reporter : Im Dong-guk, Video Editor : Lee Sang-min)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.