Two buildings set ablaze within 7 minutes before suspect fled by subway

Fire department dispatched after witness reported arson in progress

Firefighters work to extinguish remaining flames at a building in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Firefighters work to extinguish remaining flames at a building in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

A man in his 70s who allegedly set fire to two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and fled the scene has been arrested. Investigators found that he had been detained four years ago for attempting to commit arson at one of the same buildings.

Hyehwa Police Station said officers arrested the suspect, identified only as A, near Dongmyo-ap subway station at around 4:16 p.m. Tuesday. Police transferred him to Suseo Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area, where investigators are questioning him about the circumstances of the attacks.

Authorities confirmed that A had previously been detained in 2022 on charges of preparing to commit arson at one of the buildings he targeted Tuesday.

According to police, both buildings he targeted house patent law firm offices. Investigators are looking into the possibility that A harbored a grievance related to a patent dispute and are working to establish a precise motive.

A is suspected of setting fire to the third floor of Sinmyeong Building in Yeoksam-dong at around 11:54 a.m. Tuesday, then setting another fire seven minutes later, at around 12:01 p.m., at a patent law firm office on the fourth floor of Hanyang Building, located about 200 meters away.

The fire department was dispatched immediately after receiving a report that someone had set a building on fire. The blaze at Hanyang Building was fully extinguished at around 12:35 p.m., while the fire at Sinmyeong Building was brought under control at around 2:20 p.m.

Police immediately suspected arson and tracked A's movements after he fled by subway, apprehending him roughly four hours after the fires were set.

A patent attorney identified as B, who worked on the third floor of Sinmyeong Building, was found unresponsive in a hallway and taken to hospital. B's husband, who also worked at the office, was also reported injured.

A total of 10 people were injured at Sinmyeong Building, including B, and about 60 people inside were evacuated. Eight more people were injured at Hanyang Building, three of them suffering severe respiratory distress, bringing the total number of casualties across both buildings to 18. The injured were taken to Gangnam Severance Hospital, Hanyang University Hospital and Chung-Ang University Hospital for treatment.


hwshin@heraldcorp.com