'Seoul Station Random Assault' Arrest Warrant Denied Again... Women's Groups Criticize "Lack of Gender Sensitivity"

Seoul Station Random Assault Second Warrant Hearing
Court: "Not a Misogynistic Crime... Impulsive and Sudden Act Due to Schizophrenia"
Women's Groups: "Cause is Lack of Gender Sensitivity"
Experts: "Efforts Needed Not Only from Court but Also from Government"

Suspect Lee Mo (32), who assaulted a female pedestrian he had never seen before at Seoul Station and fled, is leaving the court after the second warrant hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on the afternoon of the 15th.
/Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the arrest warrant for the so-called 'Seoul Station random assault suspect,' who assaulted a woman he did not even know, was once again dismissed, women's groups are raising concerns about a lack of gender sensitivity. Experts worry that there could be more victims due to the risk of reoffending.

On the 15th, Judge Kim Taekyun, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, dismissed the arrest warrant for Lee (32), who is accused of assault. Regarding the reason for dismissal, Judge Kim explained, "The crime does not appear to be a random act stemming from so-called misogyny but rather an impulsive, sudden act related to the suspect's ongoing schizophrenia and other conditions," adding, "At this stage, it is difficult to recognize the necessity or grounds for detention."

He also stated the reason for dismissal, saying, "Considering the extent of the evidence collected so far, the progress of the investigation, and the suspect's attitude toward the investigation, it is hard to see any risk of the suspect fleeing or destroying evidence."

Previously, Lee is accused of striking the left cheekbone area of a woman in her 30s, whom he did not know, on the first floor of Seoul Station of the Airport Railroad at around 1:50 p.m. on the 26th of last month, causing injury and fleeing the scene. According to the police, Lee was under medication for a mental illness.

This is the second time Lee's arrest warrant has been dismissed, following the dismissal on the 4th of this month. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Special Railway Police, in cooperation with the police, conducted a joint investigation and urgently arrested Lee at his home in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd, applying for an arrest warrant, but the warrant was dismissed on the grounds that the urgent arrest was unlawful.

At that time, Judge Kim Donghyun, who was in charge of the warrant review at the Seoul Central District Court, dismissed the warrant, stating, "An arrest warrant based on an unlawful urgent arrest cannot be accepted."

In response to the court's decision, the victim's family posted on social networking services (SNS), claiming, "If he had been a man or with a man, this accident would not have happened," and called it "a clear hate crime against women."

Photo by Yonhap News

Following the consecutive dismissals of the arrest warrant, women immediately protested. Office worker Kim (27) said, "The very judgment that this was an impulsive crime raises doubts about the judiciary's gender sensitivity. I don't understand how they can say this is not a misogynistic crime when the assault targeted a woman specifically," adding, "Dismissing the arrest warrant is like not taking the severity of the crime seriously, and honestly, it's frightening. Is there no judiciary that can even slightly understand the fear women live with in a world where anyone could harm them?"

Another office worker, Jung (26), also said, "At this point, the law is worse than useless," and raised her voice, "Despite this being a clear misogynistic crime targeting women, the court is ignoring it. How can they release a violent criminal back into society?"

She added, "Soon they will claim a reduced sentence due to mental illness," and said, "Considering the victim who must be trembling in great fear, the court's decision this time is seriously wrong."

Criticism has also arisen that there is a lack of gender sensitivity. It is pointed out that the fear the victim might feel due to the dismissal of the warrant was not taken into account.

Jo Jinkyung, director of the Teen Women's Human Rights Center, said, "The arrest warrant for the random assault suspect targeting women was dismissed twice. I find it strange why they are so lenient. The victim was not considered," adding, "I wonder if they would have done the same if the gender were different."

Experts expressed concern that this case involves a crime targeting women specifically and that the dismissal of the warrant could lead to more victims.

Attorney Lee Eun said, "The dismissal of the arrest warrant for the Seoul Station random assault suspect was based on the principle that there was no risk of flight," but emphasized, "The suspect is repeatedly committing crimes against vulnerable women. The court should have considered whether it could be confident that there is no risk of reoffending."

She continued, "It seems the court did not consider that a third victim could emerge," and suggested, "The court needs to take a broader view when deciding on detention for those with a risk of reoffending." She especially advised, "The government needs to improve systems, including manpower and financial investment, to ensure proper management and supervision of criminals with schizophrenia."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.