Personal information disclosure committee votes 4-0

Police on Friday released the identity of Choi Chung-rak, 59, who is accused of wielding a knife at a large commercial facility in Incheon and injuring eight people. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency convened a personal information disclosure review committee that afternoon and released Choi's name, age and mugshot. He is being held on charges of attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public place. [Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency via Yonhap]
Police on Friday released the identity of Choi Chung-rak, 59, who is accused of wielding a knife at a large commercial facility in Incheon and injuring eight people. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency convened a personal information disclosure review committee that afternoon and released Choi's name, age and mugshot. He is being held on charges of attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public place. [Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency via Yonhap]

Police have released the identity of Choi Chung-rak, 59, who is accused of going on a knife rampage at a large commercial facility in Incheon and injuring eight people.

The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency convened a personal information disclosure review committee on Friday and released Choi's name, age and mugshot. He is being held on charges of attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public place.

The committee, made up of three internal police members and four outside experts including legal professionals, reached its decision after a closed-door session. Police said the disclosure was approved unanimously on the grounds that "the crime was brutal, caused serious harm and sufficient evidence has been secured," adding that the case met the required criteria including the public interest.

Choi's personal information will remain posted on the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's website from Friday through Nov. 16.

Under the law governing the disclosure of suspects in serious specified crimes, a suspect's identity may be made public when the crime involved cruel methods, caused significant harm and the suspect's involvement is sufficiently established. Authorities weigh factors including the public's right to know, the prevention of reoffending and further crimes, and the wishes of victims.

Choi is accused of stabbing 10 people at the See&See commercial building in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon — a complex housing a hypermarket, a movie theater and other businesses — at around 1:48 p.m. on Tuesday with the intent to kill. Eight of the 10 were injured; the other two escaped unharmed. One victim, a 19-year-old woman, was rushed to a hospital in cardiac arrest and underwent emergency surgery, after which her heartbeat was restored, but she has not regained consciousness and remains under treatment.

During police questioning, Choi said he carried out the attack to draw public attention to his grievances — he had been dissatisfied with a hospital where he received treatment for a skin condition and had come under police investigation after the hospital reported him. Choi has 10 prior convictions resulting in fines or heavier penalties, including two previous attempted murder cases.


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