'Incheon Knife Attack' Teen Victim Still Unconscious... Friend: "Please Join Petition for Severe Punishment"

"We Must Hold Those Who Commit Serious Crimes That Threaten Innocent Citizens Strictly Accountable"

A teenage girl who was left in critical condition in the Incheon knife attack has yet to regain consciousness after a week, as 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for severe punishment for the assailant.

Incheon Knife Attack Victim Remains Unconscious After a Week

On the afternoon of the 13th, a man in his 50s went on a knife-wielding rampage at a large commercial complex in Namdong-gu, Incheon, injuring eight visitors. The photo shows the suspect captured on CCTV in the second-floor restaurant area. Yonhap News Agency.

According to Yonhap News on October 20, A (19), who was stabbed by Choi Chungrak (59) at around 1:48 p.m. on October 13 at a large commercial complex in Namdong-gu, Incheon, had yet to regain consciousness as of that day. Choi is accused of attempting to murder 10 people, including A, by stabbing them.

A was the second victim in chronological order among the 10 people injured in the incident. Choi suddenly charged at A and her acquaintance, a woman in her 20s, while they were in the restaurant area. A was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest. After emergency surgery, her pulse returned, but she has still not regained consciousness and is receiving treatment in the intensive care unit.

Victim's Friend: "Please Join Us to Ensure This Tragedy Is Not Repeated"

Incheon stabbing suspect Choi Chungrak (59).

B, who identified herself as a longtime friend of the victim, launched a petition calling for severe punishment for the assailant. In the petition, B said, "This was a horrific incident in which a man in his 50s wielded a knife in the food court of a large supermarket used by many citizens, harming innocent people. As a result, my dear friend, whom I have known for a long time, suffered serious injuries and went into cardiac arrest."

She added, "I feel deep anger and sorrow knowing that an innocent person going about an ordinary day became the target of horrific violence for no reason," and stressed, "I sincerely hope that the circumstances of the crime and the perpetrator's capacity to bear responsibility will be thoroughly investigated, and that he will receive an appropriate punishment."

B also said, "This incident must not end as the tragedy of just one individual," adding, "To build a society where citizens can live without fear, we must hold people firmly accountable for serious crimes that threaten the lives and safety of innocent people."

She added, "I ask many people to join this petition calling for severe punishment so that the suffering of the victim and her family is not ignored and such tragedies are not repeated in our society." A total of 15,000 people had signed the petition by the night of October 19.

Choi is reportedly a repeat offender with 10 prior convictions for offenses punishable by a fine or a more severe sentence, including two convictions for attempted murder. In particular, if factors such as the fact that there were three or more victims in this case are recognized, the sentencing standard for multiple-victim concurrent offenses is expected to apply, potentially resulting in a much longer sentence than for other attempted murder offenses. If the court finds that the crime involved indiscriminate attacks on multiple victims or an extreme disregard for human life, he could receive a sentence of up to life imprisonment.

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