Yeongdeungpo Serial Arsonist Arrested… Court Cites "Flight Risk"

Suspect A says, "I set fire out of dissatisfaction with the world"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] A man in his 30s was arrested for setting consecutive fires in the Yeongdeungpo-gu area of Seoul, resulting in one death.

On the afternoon of the 16th, Judge Ko Jong-young of the Seoul Southern District Court conducted a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review) for Mr. A, a man in his 30s accused of arson causing death of an occupied building, and issued an arrest warrant.

The court stated the reason for issuing the warrant was “concern that Mr. A might flee.”

Mr. A is accused of setting fire to a two-story commercial building in Singil-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu at around 11:05 PM on the 14th, and then setting fire to a four-story commercial building in Yeongdeungpo-dong at around 3:23 AM on the 15th, causing one death.

During police investigation, Mr. A stated that he entered both commercial buildings with the intent to steal money and that he set the fires out of frustration with the world, acting on impulse.

At the time of the crimes, Mr. A was intoxicated, and he was also found to be under the influence of alcohol when he was urgently arrested near the crime scene around 6 AM that day.

Mr. A did not know the male victim in his 60s who died in the fire, and the investigation confirmed that the crime was not motivated by any grudge or personal relationship.

The male victim in his 60s who was on the third floor of the Yeongdeungpo-dong building during the second fire died, while a woman in her 70s rescued from the fourth floor inhaled smoke and is receiving hospital treatment. It was also reported that one firefighter was injured during the fire suppression. The first fire was quickly extinguished without spreading widely and caused no casualties.

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