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Identity of 59-Year-Old Choi Choong-rak Revealed... Silent on Question Regarding 6.8 Million Won

Kim Gyu-ri

Published : Oct 16, 2026 9:37 PM

Video

[Anchor]

The identity of the suspect arrested by police for wielding a weapon and injuring citizens at a complex commercial building in Incheon has been disclosed. He is 59-year-old Choi Choong-rak. When asked why he attacked innocent citizens, Choi made no response.

Reporter Kim Gyu-ri has the details.

[Reporter]

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

This is 59-year-old Choi Choong-rak, who went on a weapon rampage at a complex commercial building in Guwol-dong, Incheon, on the 13th, as he arrived at the court for his pre-trial detention hearing.

[Choi Choong-rak : (Why did you commit the crime against strangers?) I am sorry. (Do you have anything to say to the victims?) I have committed a sin punishable by death.]

Regarding the 6.8 million won he was carrying at the time of the crime, he offered this explanation.

[Choi Choong-rak : (Were you trying to run away with 6.8 million won?) No. I didn't intend to run away, but because this pressure came... (What kind of pressure exactly were you under?) I staged a one-person protest for two and a half months due to side effects from hospital (treatment), but instead, civil pressure was coming at me.]

When reporters asked why he committed such a brutal crime against innocent citizens at a complex commercial building if he had a conflict with a hospital, he gave no answer.

The victim's family expressed deep frustration and anger.

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

The court hearing lasted only 20 minutes, and the court issued an arrest warrant, citing concerns that he might flee.

The police decided to disclose Choi's personal information through a deliberation committee meeting on identity disclosure held this afternoon.

The police also plan to accelerate their investigation 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.

(Video by Lim Dong-guk | Video Editing by Lee Sang-min)