Man in his 70s faces detention hearing over knife attack at Ilmin Museum of Art

By Yang Geun-hyuk, The Herald Business

A man in his 70s who went on a knife rampage at Ilmin Museum of Art inside the Dong-A Ilbo building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, is set to face a detention hearing in court.

Seoul Central District Court is scheduled to hold a detention hearing Sunday at 2 p.m. for the man, identified only as A, on charges of attempted murder and preparation for arson. The Jongno Police Station had applied for an arrest warrant Saturday on the same charges.

A is accused of stabbing an acquaintance in his 40s, identified as B, with a sickle at Ilmin Museum of Art at around 7:47 a.m. on June 26 before fleeing the scene. Before the attack, A had been working in a cleaning-related capacity around the building, while B had recently submitted a resignation letter after working at the same building.

Police arrested A on an emergency basis roughly 10 hours after the attack. They also applied the arson preparation charge after confirming he had made preparations to set a fire before wielding the weapon.