Gyeongsan Apartment Arson Case Claims Two Lives... Police Focus on Identifying Motive

Set on Fire with Flammable Liquid, Victim Suffers Full-Body Burns

Suspect Ryu Was in Prolonged Conflict with Management Office

Two Other Victims in Critical Condition While Undergoing Treatment

A woman in her 50s, an apartment management office employee in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk Province, who had suffered severe injuries in the recent arson attack, has died after more than a week of hospitalization.

As a result, the number of fatalities from this incident has increased to two, including the woman in her 50s who was a resident and died on the 24th.

At around 8:29 a.m. on the 23rd, an explosion- suspected accident occurred inside the management office of an apartment in Sadong, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk Province, where officials and residents gathered around the scene. Photo by Yonhap News.

According to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency and other authorities on July 31, the management office employee, identified as Ms. A (female, in her 50s), passed away at approximately 5:35 p.m. at a burn treatment hospital in Daegu.

Ms. A had been hospitalized since July 23, after sustaining severe burns across her body in the incident where a resident, identified as Ryu (71), poured a flammable substance and set fire to the management office of an apartment complex in Gyeongsan. The police plan to conduct an autopsy soon to determine the exact cause of death.

With Ms. A's death, the fatalities from this arson case now total two, including Ms. B (female, in her 50s), another resident who died the day after the fire, on July 24.

Among the five other victims who sustained burns in this arson attack and are currently undergoing hospital treatment, two are reported to be in critical condition.

The suspect, Ryu, also sustained burns over his entire body immediately following the incident and was transported to the hospital. He is reported to be conscious but unable to communicate. The police plan to question him in person as soon as his condition improves.

Earlier, at around 8:29 a.m. on July 23, Ryu was charged with setting fire to the apartment management office in Gyeongsan after pouring a flammable liquid, causing casualties to eight people including himself. He faces charges of arson resulting in death and injury under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.

It has been reported that Ryu had been in a prolonged conflict with the management office staff over apartment operations. Authorities are also considering applying the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, which carries harsher penalties, if it is confirmed that Ryu’s motive was retaliatory and targeted specific individuals.

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