A man in his 70s suspected of setting fires at two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, injuring nearly 20 people, has largely admitted to the crime during police questioning.

Following a second round of questioning of the suspect on the 21st, police plan to apply for an arrest warrant later today on charges of arson resulting in injury to an inhabited building.

Through a media announcement, the Suseo Police Station stated, "We conducted the first interrogation of the suspect overnight regarding the arson case that occurred in Yeoksam-dong yesterday, and the suspect has mostly admitted to the charges."

According to police, suspect A planned and prepared for the crime four days prior on the 16th by purchasing two plastic jerrycans, lighters, and accelerants near his residence in Gangseo-gu.

On the day of the crime, he took a taxi from his residence with the accelerants and traveled to the crime scene in Yeoksam-dong.

A claimed that two patent corporations where he started the fires had defrauded him by issuing fake patent registration certificates.

Regarding his motive for the crime, he stated, "I wanted to scare them (the patent corporation officials) and let the world know about this."

As he entered the Suseo Police Station yesterday, when reporters asked about his motive, A said, "The patent law firm committed fraud," and he made similar statements during the actual investigation.

When asked yesterday if he held a grudge against the patent corporation, A replied, "I filed a patent in 2000, and (the patent corporation) committed fraud."

To the question, "Do you have anything to say to the victims?" he responded, "Tell them not to commit fraud anymore."

Following yesterday's inspection, police will conduct a second forensic inspection of the Yeoksam-dong fire scene around 10:30 AM today.

A is suspected of setting successive fires at around 11:54 AM on the third floor of the Shinmyeong Building and at around 12:01 PM on the fourth floor of the Hanyang Building on the 20th, injuring 19 people.

Among them, one patent attorney was found in cardiac arrest and was transferred to a hospital, where receiving treatment.

After fleeing the scene, A was emergency-arrested later that same day near Dongmyo Station.

Police stated, "We will do our utmost to protect and support victims, including providing medical expense support."

(Photo: Yonhap News)