[E-Daily Reporter WON DA YEON ] A knife rampage occurred in broad daylight in the heart of the city. It took place at a commercial complex—home to a large supermarket and a movie theater—that is frequently visited by citizens.

The assailant, who was subdued by bystanders at the scene and subsequently arrested, was wearing an electronic ankle monitor. The suspect had previously been indicted on charges of attempting to murder his ex-wife and sentenced to four years in prison; due to the risk of reoffending, he had been ordered to wear the monitor for 10 years following his release. The fact that such a crime occurred even while he was wearing the monitor is heightening public anxiety.

On the 16th, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency released the personal information of Choi Chung-rak, who went on a knife rampage in Incheon, injuring eight people. The decision to disclose his identity was made after considering the brutality of the crime, the severity of the injuries, the sufficiency of evidence, and the public interest. Prior to the disclosure, an arrest warrant had also been issued for him.

Choi Chung-rak is accused of attempting to kill eight civilians by wielding two knives at a large commercial facility in Incheon around 1:48 p.m. on the 13th.

As a result of his knife rampage, a woman in her 20s was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery; she is currently recovering but remains unconscious. Seven other injured individuals—men and women in their 20s through 50s—were also transported to the hospital by emergency medical services and are receiving treatment. These citizens, who had simply gone about their daily lives, became victims of a horrific crime.

At the time of the incident, Choi Chung-rak—holding weapons in both hands, which he had secured with white tape—swinged them at passersby he had never met before and was subdued by bystanders at the scene.

During the police investigation, Choi Chung-rak stated, “I committed the crime to express my dissatisfaction to society over being investigated by the police following a report from the hospital,” adding that he “committed the crime to make headlines.”

In particular, it was confirmed that he was wearing an electronic ankle monitor at the time of the crime and had been reported to the police six times over the two months prior to the incident for offenses such as obstruction of business and possession of a weapon. Given his history of multiple previous knife crimes, public anxiety is growing over the fact that proactive measures were not taken in response to these warning signs.

Choi Chung-rak was previously punished in September 2004 for brandishing a weapon at a real estate agent at an office in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, out of dissatisfaction with the agent. In 2007, following a dispute with his ex-wife—with whom he was cohabiting after their divorce—he brandished a weapon and injured her. He is known to have a criminal record of more than 10 prior offenses.

The main conditions imposed on him included a curfew restricting his movements during late-night hours (midnight to 6 a.m.) and mandatory psychiatric treatment. However, since he entered a commercial building in broad daylight without tampering with his electronic ankle monitor and began wielding a weapon, the Ministry of Justice’s monitoring system did not sound an alarm even as citizens were bleeding.

President Lee Jae-myung visited the scene on the day of the incident and ordered a thorough investigation, as well as a comprehensive review of the entire supervision system for individuals wearing electronic ankle monitors.

Meanwhile, an outpouring of support is being directed toward the citizens who desperately subdued Choi Chung-rak by throwing chairs and other objects at him during the attack. Online, people are sharing the addresses of stores within the shopping center run by the citizens who helped subdue him and encouraging others to visit them.