Prosecutors seek death penalty for motel arsonist

Police officials inspect a burned motel in the Jongno district of Seoul, on Jan. 21. / Yonhap

By Park Si-soo

Prosecutors on Monday sought the death penalty for a middle-aged man accused of setting fire to a motel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in January, killing seven people and injuring three.

The alleged arsonist, 53, surnamed Yoo, pled guilty to the crime and begged for mercy.

At a trial hearing in Seoul Central District Court, the prosecution asked the judge for capital punishment, saying his crime was “prepared with intention to kill people.”

The suspect claimed the crime took place when he was “drunk” so he “couldn't make a right judgment” at that time.

“All the evidence and testimonies show the accused, who was sober, poured gasoline on the floor (of the motel), set it on fire and checked if the fire was catching before leaving the building,” the prosecutor said. “It doesn't make sense that he committed the crime while he was drunk.”

Court documents say Yoo committed the crime at 3 a.m. on Jan. 20 after a motel manager rejected his call to send a call-girl to his room. In a fit of anger, he poured 10 liters of gasoline he bought at a nearby gas station and set it alight.

The ruling trial is scheduled for May 4 at 10:10 a.m.