Bundang stabbing suspect apologizes to victims

Choi Won-jong, the suspect in the stabbing rampage in Bundang, Gyeonggi, last week, apologized to victims in front of media as police handed his case to prosecution on charges of murder Thursday.

Choi Won-jong, the suspect in the stabbing rampage in Bundang, Gyeonggi, last week, speaks to reporters in front of Seongnam Sujeong Police Station in Gyeonggi, as police handed his case to the prosecution Thursday. [YONHAP]

Choi Won-jong, the suspect in the stabbing rampage in Bundang, Gyeonggi, last week, apologized to victims in front of media as police handed his case to prosecution on charges of murder Thursday.

Choi, 22, whose identity was revealed earlier this week, showed his face to the public as he left the detention center at Seongnam Sujeong Police Station in Gyeonggi.

When asked by reporters Thursday if he felt guilt, he replied, "I'm really sorry to the victim who died, and I wish the victims who are currently in the hospital a speedy recovery."

Choi is accused of killing one woman and injuring 13 other people on Aug. 3 after he drove a car onto a sidewalk and rammed pedestrians near Seohyeon Station in Bundang, before stabbing people inside a shopping mall.

Choi on Thursday expressed his condolences to the woman in her 60s who died and "sincere apologies" to her bereaved family.

He told reporters that he plans to write an apology statement.

Another victim, a woman in her 20s who was hit by Choi's vehicle, is reportedly in a coma.

On Monday, the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency disclosed Choi's name, age and photo, citing the brutality of his alleged crime and the clear evidence against him.

The police released both an outdated photo from Choi's driver's license and one showing his face taken at the time of his arrest last week that didn't show his features clearly.

Choi refused to take a mug shot, so his appearance in front of media Thursday was the first time his face, without any hat or mask, was clearly revealed to the public.

The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency forwarded the case Thursday to Suwon District Prosecutors' Office on charges of murder and attempted murder.

Choi told reporters he plans to write an apology statement during detention and that he "regrets" the crime.

"I was a victim of a stalking group for several years, and I was bullied on the day of the crime," he claimed when asked about his motive. "I thought there were many members of the group around my house, so I thought I should kill the people around me."

Choi has testified to police several times that he believed he was being stalked by an unspecified group trying to harm him.

Police said that Choi suffers from a social phobia and was diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder in 2020. He was prescribed medicine but has not received treatment in the past three years.

Police said Thursday said they were not able to conclude whether Choi was a psychopath after conducting a psychopathy checklist, or PCL-R test, on him.

Choi's attack came at the heels of another stabbing rampage last month by 33-year-old Jo Seon, who killed one man and injured three others with a knife near Sillim Station in Gwanak District, southern Seoul.

Police said it was difficult to conclude for now that Choi's attack was a copycat crime of the Sillim stabbing rampage, citing records of Choi's mental illness.

However, police said there was some level of premeditation to the crime as he bought the weapons beforehand and cased out Seohyeon Station the day before.

These incidents have led to dozens of similar murder threats posted on internet forums and social media recently, with police and prosecution working hard to track down and punish the original posters and individuals carrying weapons in public places.

Suwon prosecutors said that they will conduct a thorough investigation to further clarify the full extent of the crime "which has caused great fear and anxiety to the public."

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]