Lee Sujeong on the dismissal of the arrest warrant for the 'Seoul Station random assault' case: "It's not that there is no risk of schizophrenia or reoffending"

Suspect Lee Mo (32), who assaulted a female pedestrian he had never seen before at Seoul Station and fled, was captured 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 Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University interpreted on the 17th that the second arrest warrant for a man in his 30s who assaulted a female passerby he met for the first time at Seoul Station and fled was dismissed again, saying, "It seems that mental illness was considered broadly."

On the same day, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Professor Lee said, "Schizophrenia that causes violent behavior does not disappear just because the person has the will. Just because it is considered impulsive does not mean there is no risk of reoffending."

She added, "Because he had provoked disputes more than once, he has already been continuously engaging in behavior similar to reoffending. The problem is that the arrest warrant was dismissed on the grounds that it was an impulsive crime and that there was a will to receive treatment. But if that is the case, then leaving him in society without detention poses the risk of repeating dangerous behavior. In fact, the risk level is very high right now," she pointed out.

Earlier, on the 15th, Judge Kim Tae-gyun, in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, after conducting a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for Lee (32), who is suspected of assault and other charges, dismissed the second arrest warrant, stating, "It is difficult to see that Lee would suddenly flee or destroy evidence." The arrest warrant for Lee was also dismissed on the 4th.

Judge Kim stated, "This appears to be an impulsive and sudden act due to schizophrenia that the suspect has been suffering from, rather than a random crime based on misogyny. After the incident, he went down to the province where his family lives, was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, and is receiving treatment. Lee and his family have pledged to make every effort for prevention of reoffending and treatment over a sufficient period."

Professor Lee explained, "From the beginning, his risk was not managed within the family. He lives alone, and although he should have received treatment, he was neglected without treatment. If he is left untreated without even detention, will his symptoms disappear? The likelihood is very low."

She then suggested, "If detention is not possible, then a temporary measure such as hospitalization, even forced hospitalization, seems like a very reasonable demand."

Regarding the significance of applying for a third arrest warrant for the suspect, she predicted, "Unless the court changes, it does not seem to have much effect."

Meanwhile, Lee is suspected of committing a so-called 'random assault' on a woman in her 30s he met for the first time at Seoul Station on the 26th of last month by pushing her with his shoulder and punching her face.

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