Subway arsonist faces arrest, cites divorce dispute as motive
A man in his 60s faces arrest for starting a fire in a subway train in Seoul on Saturday, allegedly out of anger over his divorce case. Police have asked the prosecution to request an arrest warrant on charges of committing arson at a public facility. The fire broke out around 8:43 a.m. inside a train traveling from Yeouinaru Station to Mapo Station on Line 5. According to witnesses, the man poured flammable liquid inside the carriage and set it ablaze. As the fire and smoke arose, more than 400 passengers escaped into the tunnel linking the two stations, with no major injuries reported. The man was detained at Yeouinaru Station around 9:45 a.m. He sustained a minor injury and was carried out on a stretcher by other passengers. Police officers interrogated and he admitted to the crime. He showed no signs of intoxication or drug use. He later told police that he acted in anger over a recent divorce ruling. Witnesses said the man showed no remorse, reportedly telling a fellow passenger who confronted him, “Well, no one died, so what’s the problem?” Officials at the fire and transportat
Jun 1, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
