Review of 'Psychopath Test' for Suspect in Bundang Stabbing Incident

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The police are reportedly considering conducting a psychopathy diagnostic test (PCL-R) on the suspect in his 20s involved in the 'Bundang stabbing rampage' that resulted in 14 casualties.

The Southern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency's special investigation team for the stabbing incident is reviewing whether a psychopathy diagnostic test is necessary to determine the motive and background of the suspect, Choi (22). On the 6th, the investigation team plans to decide whether to proceed with the psychopathy test after four profilers interview Choi. This will be the second profiler interview with Choi, and no other investigation schedules are known besides this interview.

The psychopathy diagnostic test quantifies personality traits of psychopaths such as coldness, impulsivity, lack of empathy, and irresponsibility. It consists of 20 questions with a perfect score of 40 points. In South Korea, a score above 25 typically classifies a person as a psychopath. The results take about ten days to be released.

Previously, on the 21st of last month, Cho Seon (33), who committed a 'random stabbing rampage' in the bustling area of Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, resulting in one death and three injuries (four casualties in total), was classified as a psychopath in the diagnostic test.

However, unlike Cho Seon, who had received treatment for mental illness, Choi began psychiatric treatment for social withdrawal symptoms in 2015 when he was in middle school and was diagnosed with schizoid personality disorder in 2020. Choi discontinued psychiatric treatment in 2020 after about five years of care, and after dropping out of high school, he rarely went outside until committing this crime.

Regarding his motive, Choi incoherently claimed, "I killed a person belonging to a stalking group that was trying to harm me, and through this, I committed the crime to expose the stalking group to the world."

On the afternoon of the 3rd, at around 5:59 PM, Choi wielded a weapon against citizens on the 1st and 2nd floors of AK Plaza Department Store in Seohyeon-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province. Nine citizens were injured, eight of whom sustained serious injuries. Prior to this, he drove a car onto the sidewalk, hitting pedestrians, resulting in one death and four injuries. Choi was arrested the day before, and the Personal Information Disclosure Review Committee, which will decide whether to disclose his identity, is scheduled to convene on the 7th.

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