19-Year-Old Woman Stabbed in Incheon Rampage Remains Unconscious for Fifth Day
A 19-year-old woman, identified only as Ms. A, who was attacked in a knife rampage in Incheon has remained unconscious for the fifth day. The attack occurred at around 1:48 p.m. on the 13th at a large commercial complex in Guwol-dong, Namdong District, Incheon. A total of eight people were injured, including Ms. A.
Ms. A had been attending an academy in Guwol-dong, Incheon, since March to study video editing. On the day of the attack, she had just finished class and was leaving a restaurant on the second floor of the building. She was reportedly stabbed multiple times in the chest and back by the suspect, Choi Chung-rak, 59, who appeared suddenly. Although she underwent four hours of chest surgery, Ms. A remains unconscious and is dependent on a respirator.
Ms. A's family said, "We thought it was a voice phishing scam when they told us she had been stabbed in the heart," adding, "If he had stabbed her any deeper, it could have reached her lungs." Her mother said, "She worked part-time jobs on weekends and even in the early mornings, without a single day off. I wonder if she is now sleeping off all the rest she never got." She added, "For now, I will set aside the question of 'why did it have to be my daughter.'"
The family demanded strong punishment for the perpetrator. Ms. A's mother said she hoped Choi would be severely punished, saying, "He must never set foot outside prison again."
During police questioning, Choi claimed he had a grievance with the hospital where he was treated for a skin condition and said he was also investigated by police following a report from the hospital. He asserted that he committed the crime to make news and publicize his grievances. He is also reported to have stated, "I'm in pain too, after being subdued by citizens."
The investigation revealed that Choi has a record of at least 10 prior convictions for violent crimes. He attacked an employee at a licensed real estate agent's office with a weapon in 2004 and was punished for stabbing his ex-wife with a weapon in 2007. In 2015, he again stabbed his ex-wife and was reportedly sentenced to four years in prison on charges of attempted murder.
