In brief
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has publicly identified 77‑year‑old Lee Myung‑soo as the suspect behind two arson attacks on October 20 that left 26 people injured in its Gangnam district. Webb for police said he was taken into custody shortly after the fires and charged with arson and attempted murder, and investigators say the attacks were pre‑planned. Lee, however, claims he was scammed by the patent firms and only intended to scare employees, a claim that remains unverified.
On Tuesday, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency released the identity and mug shots of a 77‑year‑old man named Lee Myung‑soo in connection with a series of arson attacks at patent firms in Gangnam, South Korea.
According to Yonhap, the suspect was arrested shortly after the fires that erupted on October 20 and referred to the prosecution last week on charges of arson and attempted murder. The police said investigations indicate that Lee deliberately set the blazes, likely knowing that people were inside, and that 26 people were injured in the two incidents.
Police state that the suspect was taken into custody by the moment the fires started and has been held at a local detention facility. The Metropolitan Police Agency said the release of the suspect’s photo was approved by a review committee after sufficient evidence was gathered.
Lee has publicly claimed that he was scammed by the patent firms and only intended to scare people, not harm them. Those claims have not yet been corroborated by authorities and remain unverified.
While Yonhap reported the suspect’s identity, other outlets such as Asia Economy and the Ground News network echo the same basic facts, describing Lee as the alleged serial arsonist behind the Yeoksam‑Dong arsons. The description of him as a «serial arsonist» has not yet been confirmed by police, and the authorities have not issued an official statement on the matter.
In this developing story, the police’s release marks a definitive step to bring the suspect into the public eye, though questions remain about the motives behind the attacks and the extent of Lee’s involvement.
