Man threatens to hurt himself in northern Seoul in three-hour standoff

A man in his 30s terrorized a neighborhood in Eunpyeong, Seoul, on Saturday with knives on both hands. He was taken into custody after a three-hour standoff. On Friday the knuckle brass rapist and murder Choi Yoon-jong was questioned by prosecutors.

The police seal off a residential area in Eunpyeong District, in northern Seoul, on Saturday as they try to convince an intoxicated man in his 30s with knives to surrender. He threatened to hurt himself in a standoff that lasted for more than two hours. [YONHAP]

The police plan to file an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s who threatened to hurt himself in a standoff on Saturday in Eunpyeong District, northern Seoul.

The standoff lasted for more than two hours. He was taken into custody at 10 p.m.

The police arrived at the scene after receiving a call about a man holding knives in both hands at 7:35 p.m.

The man did not harm anyone, but he threatened to hurt himself.

During the standoff, he asked the police for soju and fried chicken, which he was given and able to consume. He also insisted that the police bring his mother and uncle to the scene.

The police said he was already intoxicated as he had been drinking on his own for two hours since 5 p.m. at a bar.

He reportedly told the bar owner he was living alone due to family issues.

The police also discovered six more knives in a bag in his car.

He tested negative for drugs, the police said Sunday.

His identity has not been revealed yet.

There has been a growing public fear of random attacks since July, starting with a knife attack that month in Sillim-dong, Gwanak District in Seoul, where 33-year-old Cho Sun stabbed one to death and injured three.

Two weeks later, at the AK Plaza mall in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, 22-year-old Choi Won-jong attacked over a dozen people with his car and a knife.

A woman in her 60s whom Choi hit with his car died from injuries she suffered in the accident. He was driving the vehicle before stabbing people in the mall.

Choi Yoon-jong, who is accused of raping and murdering a woman at a park in Sillim-dong, is being escorted by the police from the Gwanak Police Precinct to the prosecutors' office on Friday. [YONHAP]

The most recent incident involved 30-year-old Choi Yoon-jong.

He killed a 30-year-old teacher on her way to work with a brass knuckle at a park in Sillim-dong just before noon on Aug. 18. She died the next day.

The two had no prior relationship.

Choi Yoon-jong, on his way to the prosecutors' office on Friday, repeatedly asserted he did not premeditate the killing, saying he had no plans to kill the woman.

He, however, admitted to raping the victim.

The law enforcement, however, plans to charge him with murder in addition to rape as evidence revealed he strangled the victim to death.

If Choi Yoon-jong is convicted of accidental killing during a sexual assault, he could face a minimum 10 years behind bars with a possibility of parole.

However, if he is convicted of murder and rape, he could receive a death penalty.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]