By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter

A South Korean is awaiting trial in Australia on an attempted murder charge.

The suspect, identified only as Choi, reportedly stabbed a New Zealander on Oct. 25 in the arm and chest during a fight ― damaging the victim's lungs ― an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Wednesday.

The official said the victim, who was in critical condition, had to undergo several operations and was now listed as stable, despite his severe wounds, she said.

Choi has been in Australia on a working-holiday visa since July.

The first hearing of the case will take place Feb. 17.

"The two were working together for an orchard in Colignan, a small rural town in northwestern Victoria," Lee Seong-su, president of the Korean Society of Victoria, told The Korea Times.

"The incident occurred only a week after Choi started working for the farm. I heard he had a good relationship with the victim until that night, when they were quite drunk," Lee said.

The incident took place at around 3 a.m., the ministry official said.

Lee said that Choi claims he does not recall anything about what happened that night.

However, an embassy official said that Choi admitted to the stabbing.

Choi's head was struck by a steel chair swung by an unidentified person, who tried to stop the fight, she said

After collapsing from the blow, he lost consciousness when the stabbing victim struck him in the head, according to the official.

The ministry has yet to learn the identity of the third person involved in the case.

Annually, more than 20,000 South Koreans go to Australia on a working holiday visa, according to the ministry.

leeth@koreatimes.co.kr