Gangnam Station Murder Case: 10 Years On, Revisiting the Incident and Key Issues

A decade ago, in the early morning of May 17, 2016, a woman in her 20s was fatally stabbed in a unisex restroom of a commercial building near Gangnam Station in Seoul. The incident sent shockwaves through society, widely reported as a random act of violence.

At the time of the incident, the perpetrator, identified as Kim (34 years old at the time), entered the restroom around 12:33 AM and waited for approximately 34 minutes. A woman in her 20s, who entered the restroom at around 1:07 AM, became the target. Immediately after his arrest, the perpetrator stated in police questioning that he committed the crime because he felt ignored by women. Investigators concluded the case was an 'unmotivated crime' driven by schizophrenia. The Supreme Court confirmed a 30-year prison sentence on April 13, 2017.

Shortly after the incident, sticky notes and other tributes were placed at Exit 10 of Gangnam Station in memory of the victim. The case became linked to women's safety issues, leading to calls for action against gender-based violence. In May 2026, civic groups held a press conference at the Gangnam Station site, urging solutions to safety concerns.