Lee Woong-hyuk "Kim Gil-su's Escape Was Predictable... Initial Response Failure Delayed Arrest"

Professor of Police Science at Konkuk University, SBS Interview
"Fled from Hospital Restroom After Swallowing Foreign Object"

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University pointed out that it took three days to capture Kim Gil-soo, who escaped while receiving treatment at a hospital after being detained on charges of special robbery, due to initial response failure causing a delay in the arrest.

On the 7th, Professor Lee appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and said, "(After Kim escaped) there was a delay of about 50 minutes until the 112 emergency call," adding, "It seems he tried to handle it himself, but that was the decisive cause of the delay in his capture."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim escaped around 6:20 a.m. on the 4th while receiving treatment at a hospital in Dongan-gu, Anyang City, but detention center staff reportedly called 112 about an hour later, around 7:20 a.m. Regarding this, Professor Lee said, "If they had reported immediately, the 112 patrol car from the Anyang Station police substation could have been dispatched and the early capture would have been possible."

Professor Lee pointed out that Kim was initially a prisoner who showed abnormal behavior, such as swallowing a spoon handle, raising concerns about escape. He said, "(The escape) was very obvious," adding, "He swallowed a spoon, and emergency initial treatment was provided by taking him to the hospital for an endoscopy, but he twisted his body and refused. Something was strange."

He continued, "((Kim) basically had the clear thought that 'I have to use the time I spend at the hospital for treatment to escape,'" explaining, "(By swallowing a foreign object) he naturally complained of abdominal pain, and since the correctional authorities had no choice but to allow outpatient treatment, eventually escaping by using the restroom is a typical method."

Professor Lee said, "It was foreseeable that there was a sufficient possibility of escape," and criticized, "Because such cases are quite common, the correctional authorities should have thoroughly managed him."

Regarding Kim's actions of stopping by a hair salon to get a haircut during his escape, Professor Lee analyzed, "He likely knew he was publicly wanted and this was a highly intelligent act to disrupt the investigation," adding, "He kept moving locations to hide his identity, and in the process, it seems he was trying to find a safe place to settle."

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