Seoul arson suspect claims victim status in Yeoksam building fires

A man in his 70s, currently in custody for arson, continues to claim he is a victim of fraud following a series of fires in the Yeoksam-dong area of Gangnam, Seoul. The suspect, identified as A, allegedly set fire to two buildings—Shinmyeong Building and Hanyang Building—on October 20, resulting in injuries to 19 people. One patent attorney was reportedly hospitalized in cardiac arrest following the incident.

The suspect maintains that the patent law firms targeted in the attacks defrauded him by failing to provide physical paper patent certificates, a document the firms state is not issued under standard procedures. This behavior mirrors an incident from four years ago when the suspect was convicted after threatening employees at the same firm with flammable liquids while demanding similar documentation.

Police are investigating whether to add attempted murder charges to the case, citing victim statements that the suspect was searching for a specific individual prior to the fires. Authorities are also reviewing the suspect's mental health history and plan to deploy profilers to determine if obsession or delusions drove the attacks. A decision on whether to transfer the case to prosecutors is expected by October 30.