A random stabbing incident shocked Gwangju, South Korea, on Children's Day. A 17-year-old female high school student, walking home alone late at night, was attacked with a knife by a 24-year-old man and later died from her injuries at the hospital. Another male high school student, who heard her cries for help and intervened, was also stabbed by the suspect. Police have since arrested the suspect on charges of murder and attempted murder.
According to Korean media reports, the incident occurred around 12:11 a.m. on May 5, on a sidewalk near Nambu University in Gwangsan District, Gwangju Metropolitan City. The 17-year-old female high school student was walking home alone when she was suddenly attacked by a man wielding a knife.
After being attacked, the female student screamed for help. A male high school student nearby heard the screams and immediately went to investigate. It is understood that the male student did not know the victim but still attempted to assist, only to be attacked by the suspect himself, sustaining multiple injuries.
Fortunately, the male student's injuries were not life-threatening. The female student was rushed to the hospital for treatment but tragically succumbed to her severe injuries.
After the crime, the suspect, identified as Jang (장), fled the scene. He initially left in a private vehicle before switching to a taxi in an attempt to evade capture. However, police launched a pursuit and apprehended him approximately 11 hours after the incident, around 11:24 a.m. that same day.
Upon being brought to the Gwangsan Police Station in Gwangju, Jang told police that he did not know the deceased female high school student and had no clear motive for the crime. He claimed to have had suicidal thoughts before the incident and stated there was "no particular reason" for attacking the passing student.
Police's preliminary assessment suggests that Jang likely waited in his parked car, observing, until he saw the female student pass by before attacking. The incident, occurring on Children's Day, a national holiday in Korea, and involving a minor high school student as the victim, has sparked shock and outrage across Korean society.
