Warrant sought one day after arrest

Two patent law firms in Yeoksam-dong targeted

Suspect had threatened same firms in 2022

A man in his 70s, identified by his surname Lee, is escorted to the Seoul Suseo Police Station on Tuesday after allegedly setting fire to two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. He is seen holding up documents for reporters. [Yonhap]
A man in his 70s, identified by his surname Lee, is escorted to the Seoul Suseo Police Station on Tuesday after allegedly setting fire to two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. He is seen holding up documents for reporters. [Yonhap]

Police have applied for an arrest warrant for a man in his 70s suspected of setting fire to two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The Seoul Suseo Police Station sought the warrant Wednesday against the suspect, identified by his surname Lee, on charges of arson of an occupied structure causing bodily harm.

Lee is accused of setting fire to two buildings in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, at around 11:54 a.m. Tuesday. The fires injured 19 people; one was found in cardiac arrest and remains hospitalized.

Lee largely admitted to the crimes during police questioning. He is believed to have planned the attack in advance, having purchased flammable materials near his home four days before the incident.

Both buildings targeted housed patent law firms. During questioning, Lee claimed he had been defrauded, alleging the firms had issued fraudulent patent registration certificates.

In 2022, Lee visited the same two patent law firms and was arrested on charges of threatening employees there. A court convicted him of aggravated intimidation and sentenced him to two years and six months in prison.

He later filed a fraud complaint against one of the firms, but police found no grounds for charges and declined to refer the case to prosecutors. Investigators believe Lee harbored lingering suspicions over that decision and began planning the attack.

Lee had filed a patent application for a "balance exercise device" through one of the targeted firms in 2019, according to investigators.

Police said they plan to add attempted murder charges if additional evidence emerges showing Lee had intended to kill specific individuals.


hyuk@heraldcorp.com