According to Kyunghyang Shinmun, YTN and Seoul Shinmun, the attack took place around 1:40 p.m. on Oct. 13 at a commercial building in Guwol-dong. The suspect, identified by police as a 59-year-old man surnamed A, had knives tied to both hands and moved between floors from the basement, with most of the harm occurring in the second-floor restaurant area. Eight victims were reported, but the floor-by-floor counts differ among outlets, so the exact figure needs further confirmation from police.

Early reports said a woman in her 20s was in cardiac arrest on arrival at hospital. We could not find confirmed reporting on her condition since. Police arrested A at the scene and seized two knives. The Incheon mayor urged the public not to spread unconfirmed reports and to await official announcements.

Citizens who fought back with trays and chairs

Seoul Shinmun reported that police have identified five civilians who took part in subduing him. A restaurant worker surnamed Lee (35) on the second floor threw a tray and used a chair as a shield, and a customer surnamed Na (31), who had come for lunch with his girlfriend, joined with a chair. A cinema employee surnamed Shin (23) on the fourth floor kept the suspect from moving toward the crowded theater and threw a chair at his back.

Wikitree and others reported the group followed him up the escalator to the third floor, pinned him with a chair, held his arm and took the knife. Seoul Shinmun quoted one citizen as saying he thought only that he had to stop him somehow to save himself and others. A 65-year-old surnamed Shin, who runs a ssambap restaurant, was also named among those who confronted him. Reports differ on how long it took from first sighting to handover to police and on the arrest time (roughly five to ten minutes), so we do not give a single figure.

Police believe the group prevented far greater harm and are checking CCTV to confirm each person’s role. Incheon City is considering its own commendation and has asked the national government for an honor. Na fell and hurt his leg during the struggle but was reportedly not cut.

Growing support and unresolved issues

On Oct. 16 online posts urged people to visit the restaurants that fought back and spend generously, a practice known in Korea as ‘dollchul’. Seoul Shinmun reported that comedian Kim Dae-beom proposed this and visited the ssambap restaurant the next day to post a review. Even so, customer numbers at the complex have reportedly dropped sharply, and some shop workers are said to have trouble sleeping or to have sought psychiatric care.

Incheon and Namdong District have run an on-site counseling booth since the 15th for witnesses, shop workers and residents dealing with anxiety or sleep problems, and the city is weighing support for victims’ medical, living and psychological care costs. Wikitree and YTN reported that A previously served four years for attempted murder and was wearing an electronic ankle monitor at the time; police are investigating his motive, how he got the knives and whether he knew any victims. The motive has not been confirmed.