INCHEON — Police have released the identity of Choi Chung-rak, 59, who wounded eight people in a knife attack at a large commercial complex in Incheon's Guwol-dong district.
The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency said on the 16th that its personal information disclosure review committee had approved the release of Choi's name, age and mug shot. Choi has been detained on charges of attempted murder and carrying a knife in a public place.
The committee, made up of three internal police members and four outside experts including legal professionals, met in closed session and concluded that the case met the criteria for disclosure. "The crime was brutal and caused grave harm, and sufficient evidence has been secured," police said. "We judged that the case satisfies the requirements, including the public interest, and the decision to disclose was unanimous."
Choi's personal information will be posted on the Incheon police website from the 16th through Nov. 16.
Choi is accused of attacking 10 people with a knife in an attempt to kill them at the C&C commercial building in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, at about 1:48 p.m. on the 13th. Eight of them were injured in the attack, including a 19-year-old woman who was left unconscious.
In police questioning, Choi said they had grievances against a hospital where they had been treated for a skin condition and had come under police investigation after the hospital reported them. "I wanted to make my complaints known to society, so I committed the crime to create a news story," Choi said. Choi reportedly has 10 prior convictions carrying fines or heavier penalties, including two previous cases of attempted murder.
