'Incheon Knife Rampage' Choi Chungrak Scores "Below Threshold" on Psychopathy Test

Profiler-administered test scores him below 25
Police continue investigating motive

Choi Chungrak, 59, who was detained on suspicion of attacking 10 people with a weapon at a large commercial facility in Incheon, was found not to meet the criteria for psychopathy (antisocial personality disorder).

Incheon knife-wielding attacker Choi Chung-rak, who injured eight. Provided by the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency.

On October 22, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency said it had administered the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) to Choi, who was detained on suspicion of attempted murder and carrying a weapon in a public place. A profiler interviewed Choi and used his answers to 20 questions to quantify personality traits such as impulsivity, lack of empathy and irresponsibility. Choi scored below 25. The test has a maximum score of 40, and in South Korea, a score above 25 is classified as psychopathy.

At around 1:48 p.m. on October 13, Choi attacked 10 people inside the C&C (see&see) building, a large commercial facility in Guwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. At the time of the attack, Choi was wearing an electronic tracking device (ankle monitor), and weapons were taped to both of his hands. Choi had previously committed attempted murder twice and had served a four-year prison sentence for stabbing his ex-wife.

Ten people were attacked that day. Eight were injured, including A, a 19-year-old woman who remains unconscious, while two were confirmed to have escaped unharmed. A was the second victim attacked by Choi. He suddenly charged at A and her acquaintance, a woman in her 20s, who were in a restaurant area on the building’s second floor, and swung a weapon at them. A was taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest and regained her pulse after emergency surgery, but she has yet to regain consciousness, a week after the incident.

Police are analyzing evidence and conducting further investigations to determine Choi’s motive and whether the crime was premeditated. Choi indiscriminately attacked visitors to the commercial facility, whom he did not know.

During questioning, Choi reportedly said he committed the crime to create a news story and attract attention because he wanted to “make my discontent known to society.” He also reportedly said he had not chosen a specific target and had picked people who “looked weaker than me.”

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