"Is This Near the Knife Attack Scene?"... Merchants Near Sillim Station Tremble in Fear [Report]

Residents Engulfed in Fear
Concerns Over Commercial Area Collapse and Sales Loss
Need for Crime-Prone Area Analysis and Countermeasures

"It's a restaurant, so there are many knives, which is very scary. Having two incidents like this within a year is causing sales to keep dropping, so I'm worried."

On the afternoon of the 18th, Jo Hee-kyung (57), who works at a restaurant in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, lamented, "Business is really bad because of the murder case," adding, "A customer who came to eat even asked if this place was near the knife attack incident and then just left." Kim, an employee at a nearby store to the incident location, said, "I haven't been working here long, but it's very scary," and confessed, "There are many customers with threatening tones, and since it's an entertainment district, there are many frightening incidents while working, making it hard to work."

People are passing through the alley near Sillim Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, where a stabbing incident occurred.
[Photo by Yeom Dayeon]

After the stabbing murder at Sillim Station last July, another incident occurred a year later, leaving merchants in fear. People passing by the alley where the daytime murder occurred on the 14th glanced nervously and hurried their steps. Lee (52), who runs a restaurant, sighed, "Sales were already bad because of last year's incident, and now another such event has happened, so I feel uneasy," adding, "I hope this time it doesn't affect business."

Im Song-bin (74), owner of a laundry shop, said, "I've been running a business here for 50 years, but with these incidents happening repeatedly, I'm scared and have asked the police to patrol more often. Many people throw cigarette butts in front of the door, and although I want to say something, I'm often afraid of retaliation and just endure it," expressing, "If many people move away, sales will drop even more, so I'm very worried."

The scene of a stabbing murder incident near Sillim Station in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Yeom Dayeon

Vacant stores with 'For Lease' notices were easily found in various buildings near Sillim Station. Choi (46), an employee at a nearby store, said, "I heard that after last year's knife attack in Sillim-dong, the owner couldn't endure it and put the store up for lease," adding, "There are many rumors about poor sales around here, so it's been up for lease for quite a while, but no one seems to want to move in yet."

Residents felt fear due to the repeated crimes. Kang (28) said, "It seems like these kinds of incidents are happening a lot these days, so it's very scary," and confessed, "I even stopped wearing earphones while walking on the street just in case." Park (36) said, "I was planning to give wedding invitations to friends by meeting at Sillim Station, but I feel uneasy," adding, "I'm considering changing the location." Jo (33) lamented, "I don't know why murder incidents keep happening around Sillim Station," and said, "I pass this way every day commuting, and it's scary."

Ultimately, there are calls for urgent detailed analysis and countermeasures for high-crime areas. Murder crimes have been on the rise since 2022, with a total of 770 cases last year.

Professor Kwak Dae-kyung of the Police Judicial College explained, "Preventing incidents before they happen is not easy, but it is important to create a preventive environment by strengthening patrols or installing CCTV. Engaging in activities with neighbors or acquaintances and reducing time spent isolated alone can be a countermeasure," adding, "An objective analysis of areas vulnerable to crime is necessary."

A Gwanak District Office official said, "Recently, we have been providing safety equipment to single-person households and strengthening patrols by autonomous crime prevention teams in urban areas," adding, "We will continue efforts to prevent crime in various ways, including supporting mental health care to help reclusive individuals return to daily life."