Choi Chungnak Arrested for Stabbing Rampage at Incheon Shopping Complex

Choi Chungnak, 59, who injured eight people with a weapon at a shopping complex in Incheon, has been placed under arrest. During the court's warrant validity review to determine whether to detain him, he told the victims that he had "committed a sin deserving of death," and also offered excuses to the effect that he committed the crime because he was on the verge of falling off a cliff. Family members of the victims who appeared at the court protested, insisting that he clearly intended to kill.

The police plan to investigate the motive behind the crime, whether there was intent to kill, and whether the attack was premeditated, through a search and seizure of his home, an examination of the hospital where he had conflicts over the side effects of his treatment, and interviews with acquaintances.

The problem is the investigative environment. The investigation into this crime with an unclear motive must proceed without supplementary investigation by the prosecution. In previous cases such as the Sillim-dong stabbing rampage, the police failed to fully uncover the suspect's motive, but the prosecution stepped in with cooperation from the early stages to fill in the gaps. Lawyer Kim Su-min, who led the dedicated investigation team for the Sillim-dong case, noted that only by thoroughly examining a suspect's behavior while in prison and their movements during the period they wore an electronic ankle monitor can their motive be uncovered, pointing out that such investigation is woefully inadequate within the timeframe of a police investigation. The prosecution can request supplementary investigation from the police.