Choi Yoon-jong Referenced Busan Spinning Kick... Concerns Over 'Copycat Crimes'

Seung Jaehyun Questions Interpretation of Copycat Crime Link
"Sensationalism and Showing Crime Scenes Should Be Avoided"

Amid the prosecution's investigation revealing that suspect Choi Yoon-jong in the 'Sillim-dong hiking trail sexual assault and murder case' decided to commit the crime after seeing reports on the so-called 'Busan spinning kick' incident, concerns about copycat crimes are growing.

Following recent stabbing rampages at Sillim Station and Seohyeon Station, posts predicting knife attacks have spread like a trend online. Given that a single socially impactful incident can lead to other heinous crimes, there are urgent calls for societal efforts to prevent copycat crimes.

The prosecution investigating the Sillim-dong hiking trail sexual assault and murder case revealed that Choi Yoon-jong meticulously planned the crime for four months. It was found that Choi purchased the brass knuckles used in the crime from an online shopping mall in April and scouted the hiking trail location dozens of times.

Choi Yoon-jong, accused of sexually assaulting and murdering a woman on a hiking trail in Sillim-dong, was transferred to the prosecution at the Gwanak Police Station in Seoul on August 25. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

In particular, it was reported that Choi planned the crime after seeing reports on the Busan spinning kick incident in May last year, where a woman in her 20s was indiscriminately assaulted and lost consciousness while returning home. He reportedly told the prosecution that after reading related articles, he planned to knock out the victim and commit sexual violence in a place without CCTV.

With specific statements emerging that the crime was planned based on previously occurred incidents, citizens' anxiety about copycat crimes is higher than ever. Some argue that crime reporting may encourage copycat crimes.

However, experts say that crime reporting cannot be directly linked to the occurrence of copycat crimes. Seung Jae-hyun, senior research fellow at the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice Policy, appeared on YTN News Rider and said, "It seems the crime occurred due to twisted thoughts solely driven by sexual desire in the mind," adding, "even if Choi Yoon-jong says so, it is difficult to see the reporting as directly related to the crime."

Researcher Seung mentioned that Choi had lived in social isolation for a long time, explaining, "He kept building his own fortress, but since no one pointed out that the fortress was flawed, he eventually became immersed in it. As his distorted sexuality escalated, at some point, after seeing reports like the Busan spinning kick incident, he thought this might be possible."

Regarding crime reporting, he said, "When a particular case becomes a motif for another incident, it is truly difficult to know what to do. Reporting must be done for the public's right to know, but there is a serious dilemma. We should tell the story but avoid sensationalism and showing the crime scene explicitly, and instead focus on institutional improvements and future-oriented discussions," he advised.