Man Arrested in South Korea Following Stabbing Incident: Investigation Underway

A man has been apprehended by police in South Korea after a violent stabbing spree in Gyeonggi Province left two dead and two injured, prompting a swift response and ongoing investigation into the motive behind the attacks.

SEOUL: South Korean police announced the arrest of a man on Monday (May 19) following a stabbing incident that resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to two others.

The suspect initiated the attacks around 9:30 am (8:30 am, Singapore time) on Monday, targeting a convenience store owner, a woman in her sixties, in Gyeonggi Province, located west of Seoul. He then fled the scene.

Responding to the initial report, law enforcement proceeded to the residence of the car owner associated with the suspect's vehicle. There, they found a body, which a Siheung Police Station official informed AFP was believed to be the car owner, indicating the body had been present for several days.

Approximately two hours later, the suspect stabbed another man in his seventies, once again evading capture.

Subsequently, authorities discovered another body near a house close to the convenience store where the first attack occurred.

The injured victims were receiving medical treatment and were reported to be recovering, according to a police official.

The suspect remained at large until being apprehended by police hours later.

The Siheung police station confirmed the arrest to AFP, stating that the suspect has "confessed to all charges."

"We are currently transferring him to the Siheung Police Station for further questioning into his motives and the details of the incident."

Local residents were alerted to the situation via a warning message from Siheung city hall on Monday afternoon, which reported the stabbing incident in the Jeongwang-dong area.

The message advised citizens to "avoid going out and prioritise their safety" as police conducted their search.

A subsequent warning described the suspect as "in his mid-50s with a balding head, wearing a dark-coloured jumper and pants, and a light blue top," urging the public to report any sightings immediately.

"We have released an official public wanted poster for a quick capture," a Siheung police official told AFP.

This incident follows other recent acts of violence in South Korea, including a teacher fatally stabbing an eight-year-old student at an elementary school and a student stabbing four at a school.

It's important to note that South Korea is generally a safe country, with a murder rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to official statistics, significantly lower than the global average of six per 100,000.