10/26 토픽 Man Sets Fire to ‘Gosiwon,’ Attacks Residents Randomly

[siron(영일)]

Man Sets Fire to ‘Gosiwon,’ Attacks Residents Randomly

A 31-year-old man set fire to a crammed residence in southern Seoul, Monday, and attacked those who ran out of the building to avoid the flames, killing six and leaving others seriously injured. The suspect said he simply did not like the world around him.

Gangnam police apprehended the man, identified as Jeong, on charges of arson and murder. Around 8:40 a.m., Jeong poured lighter fluid on his bed in his``gosiwon'' room and set it on fire.

When people ran out of their rooms to avoid the flames after detecting smoke, he waited on the third floor stairs and stabbed them with a 24-centimer-long knife killing six and leaving others severely wounded.

The building was a four story one with 69 people residing in it and the police are looking into whether more people sustained injuries.

The fire lasted 30 minutes and the bodies of the deceased were taken to Gangnam St. Mary's Hospital and Soon Chung Hyang University Hospital.

According to the police, Jeong was unemployed and had eight prior convictions, and told them that he did not want to live anymore.

Jeong, a high school graduate, also had a ``gas gun'' in addition to the knife, police said, adding that there were no CCTVs installed in the building.

Gosiwon is originally referred to where entrants lived to prepare for examinations for civil servants jobs, but these days students and people seeking for cheaper accomodation reside in them. Victims were mostly ethnic Koreans from China staying at the residence while working as day laborers.

The tragedy once again brought to the fore the issue of safety at such places. There have been nine cases of arson or fires at gosiwon killing 25 and injuring tens of more since 2003. Fire safety, emergency exits and other facilities are areas of concern.

Public alarm over crimes committed at random toward unspecified people is rising. Experts warn that it's time for society to take care of those who have mental problems and harbor hatred against the community.

In 2003, a mentally disturbed man set fire to a metro train killing more than 200 people in Daegu while a 70-something man who had issues with government's compensation for his real estate set fire to National Treasure No.1 Sungnyemun earlier this year.

Experts that the government needs to have a management system for those with criminal records having no job. ``One may not prevent such crimes. But at least we need to have some measures to deal with these people as they do not adapt well in society but get isolated and commit such spontaneous crimes,'' said a professor from Kyonggi University.

1. What do you think of this incident? can you believe that?

2. What happened with the guy? what is the fundamental problem?

3. Are you having difficult doing something? tell us what it is!!

4. what will you do, if you face a stranger on a dark street?

5. economically and socially, what is your anticipation in near future?

관련기사 - 살인범의 일기장...

http://photo.media.daum.net/photogallery/society/0806_affair/view.html?photoid=3299&newsid=20081022213511900&fid=20081022213511900&lid=20081022211609887

[June(최현경)]

Thanks for your hot topic.^^ I will study a lot.

[최현주]

What a tragic incident~! I'm also going to read this topic seriously....

[NICK(서원익)]

시르온!~! 토픽, 땡스 얼랏! 수고하셨어^^ ㅋ

[최코디♪(최선화)]

이남자 무섭더라,, 죄책감도 안느낀다고,,ㅠㅠ (나쁜X!!) 어쨌든 토픽감사^^

[서주(서주형)]

토픽 감사요. 이번주에도 참석하길 저도 바람...^^;;;

[바라기(김효정)]

토픽 주제가 왠지 무섭네 ㅠ_ㅠ 저도 별일없음 참석욘~!^^

[yunha(박윤하)]

이번주도 참석할께용~

[진욱(강진욱)]

형... 감사합니다 저 안올렸는데..

[siron(영일)]

닌 동희 없으면 한참 걸리잖아~~!!! 동희 셤 기간이라고 나몰라라 할 까봐 그냥 내가 다 올렸다... ㅋㅋ

[Friend(배석우)]

이번주 시론 효과 한번 기대해 보겠어..ㅋㅋㅋ

[siron(영일)]

시르온 효과 없다... ㅋㅋ

[Mulan경선]

참석 ^^*