Incheon stabbing suspect Choi Chung-rak transferred to prosecution

Choi Chung-rak, a 59-year-old man accused of attempting to murder 10 people with a knife at a large commercial facility in Guwol-dong, Incheon, has been transferred to the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office. The incident, which occurred on October 13, left eight people injured, including a 19-year-old woman who remains unconscious.

Investigations revealed that Choi had planned the attack two to three days in advance to draw social attention to his grievances. On the day of the crime, Choi visited the Incheon Probation Office to meet with an officer. Despite carrying a backpack containing knives, a hammer, and scissors, he passed through the entrance undetected because the metal detector had been turned off by staff due to frequent noise and inconvenience.

Police noted that Choi, who has a history of over 10 criminal offenses including two prior attempted murders, was wearing an electronic monitoring device at the time of the attack. While a psychopathic diagnostic test (PCL-R) yielded a score below the 25-point threshold, investigators are continuing to analyze his motives and premeditation. Choi expressed apology to the victims during his transfer but remained largely silent regarding specific questions about his choice of targets.