Did authorities have chance to stop Incheon knife attacker?

Suspect with history of violent outburst conducted armed protest a month before the attack

Choi Choong-rak, the 59-year-old man behind last week's stabbing spree in Incheon, was found to have been investigated by police for weapon possession just 34 days before the attack.

The discovery has sparked criticism that local law enforcement may have missed a chance to prevent the bloody incident.

It was reported that Choi held a solo protest in front of a hospital in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, on Sept. 9, complaining about the medical treatment he received at the hospital. Citizens reported him to the police after he pulled out a knife during the nine-hour protest.

Choi was investigated by police on Oct. 6, and testified to have been treated for alcoholism. Officials seized the knife in question, but did not carry out additional measures such as testing for mental illness, risk assessment, or requesting permission to detain him.

The suspect had 10 prior criminal records, including two cases of attempted murder. He served four years in prison for the 2015 offense, for which he was to wear an electronic ankle monitor until 2029.

Choi's probation officer was notified of Choi's conduct but did not see any signs of potential danger, even when dining with him on the day of the attack.

The suspect carried out what is believed to be a random attack against people at a commercial complex in Incheon, at around 1:40 p.m. last Tuesday. The attack left eight people injured, including a 19-year-old woman who suffered cardiac arrest and remains unconscious as of Sunday.

When asked about his crime motive, he told police he did it to "draw attention so my discontent (over the hospital) could be known to the public." He said he targeted those who looked physically weaker than him, and did not intend to kill any of them.

During Friday's hearing for his arrest warrant, he claimed that he committed the crime because he was "forced in a position where all he could do was fall off the cliff." He denied his previous statements about committing the crime to draw attention and his intention to target those who appeared weaker.

Choi is currently in detention, charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon in a public space.

Choi's history of violent outbursts

It was recently revealed that Choi has had 10 previous run-ins with the law, rather than nine previously reported. His criminal record begins with a 2004 attempted murder of a real estate agent, over his not being able to get back the deposit for his home from his landlord.

He was sentenced to 30 months in jail, suspended for three years, as the court took into consideration that he had settled with the victim and had no previous records at the time.

The second attempted murder involved his ex-wife, who refused Choi's request to get back together. He invaded the victim's home in the middle of the night in February 2015, and stabbed her on the arm, hand, and near the heart.

It was reported that Choi continued to attack the victim even when he was struck with a blunt weapon by a police officer.

In 2007, he was convicted for a knife attack against the ex-wife, who was then his girlfriend, after she attacked him first with the same knife. The court gave him another suspended term, taking into consideration that neither party had wanted the other to be criminally punished.

Other offenses include violating the conditions of his parole multiple times while wearing a monitoring device since 2019.