Incheon stabbing suspect was under electronic monitoring, had counseling hours before attack

The Ministry of Justice said the man who went on a knife rampage at a shopping complex in Gwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, on Tuesday had received an hour of alcohol addiction counseling from an outside specialist that morning — about four hours before the attack.

The suspect, identified only as A, 59, had been taking medication for a mental illness. He also met with his probation officer for 35 minutes at 11:20 a.m. that day. The ministry said the probation officer then had lunch with A until 12:30 p.m. as part of ongoing supervision.

According to the ministry, A had been under electronic monitoring — fitted with an ankle bracelet — since 2019, and had been compliant with supervision requirements throughout that period, receiving counseling for alcohol addiction and psychological issues to manage his mental illness symptoms. He had not reoffended during that time.

However, he had previously been booked on suspicion of carrying a dangerous weapon after using a kitchen knife to punch holes in a placard he was holding during a one-man protest outside a hospital with which he had an ongoing dispute.

The ministry said A had not attempted to tamper with his electronic ankle bracelet before or after the attack, nor had he violated any of his supervision conditions.

A was arrested on suspicion of injuring eight people after wielding a knife at a large shopping complex in Gwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, at around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday.

"We regard this incident with the utmost gravity and are conducting a thorough investigation into the full circumstances of the case and the management of the electronic monitoring process," the ministry said, adding that it would carry out a comprehensive review of the electronic monitoring and supervision system and "swiftly put in place any necessary institutional improvements and supplementary measures."

The ministry also said it would "concentrate all available resources to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents, placing the safety and lives of the public as our highest priority," and extended "sincere condolences again to the victims and their families."