Incheon Hyundai Market Arson Suspect's Detention Hearing: "No Pre-Meditated Plan"

An arsonist who set fire to Incheon Hyundai Market, burning down 47 stores, denied premeditating the crime.

On the afternoon of the 7th, as suspect A entered the Incheon District Court for a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review), he responded "No" to reporters' question, "Did you plan the crime in advance?"

When asked, "Aren't you sorry to the merchants?" he briefly replied, "I'm sorry."

However, A did not answer when asked, "You have a history of arson, so why do you keep setting fires? What are you sorry about to the merchants?"

A is accused of setting fires at five locations, including a dish store and a small cargo truck, around Hyundai Market in Songnim-dong, Dong-gu, Incheon, for 10 minutes starting at 11:38 p.m. on the 4th.

Although there were no casualties from the fire, 47 out of 205 stores in Hyundai Market were reduced to ashes.

A was prosecuted four times for 24 arson cases from 2006 to 2018, all resulting in prison sentences, serving a total of 10 years.

He set fire to electric wheelchairs or motorcycles parked in front of villas while intoxicated and also committed arson on plastic tarps covering display stands in front of a mart.

At the time of his first arson in 2006, he committed the crime out of resentment toward society after being fired from his company, but subsequent investigations revealed that he habitually set fires without particular reasons while intoxicated.

A (48), who is accused of setting fire at Incheon Hyundai Market and burning 47 stores, is entering the Incheon District Court on the afternoon of the 7th to undergo a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review). [Image source=Yonhap News]