"I Thought It Was a Safe Country"…20s Korean Student Stabbed with a Knife in Taiwan

Korean International Student Attacked on the Streets of Taipei
Victim Stabbed by Local Resident in Ximending District
Suspect Arrested Within 30 Minutes; Investigation Ongoing
Incident Raises Concerns Amid Rising Number of Korean Tourists

A Korean international student was stabbed with a weapon by a local resident in Taipei, Taiwan.

According to Taiwan's Central News Agency and TVBS on the 6th, A (26), a Korean international student in his 20s, was stabbed by a stranger wielding a weapon at 6:22 a.m. the previous day on Ximending Road in Taipei City. Police who responded to the report arrested the suspect, Zhou (39), who fled by car after the crime, within 30 minutes.

Suspect who stabbed a Korean international student with a weapon on a street in Ximending, Taipei City, Taiwan on the 5th. Photo by TVBS

Local police stated that Zhou's blood alcohol concentration was 0.95mg/L (alcohol level 0.095%) at the time of arrest. He is known to have multiple prior convictions. Zhou told the police, "I thought a group of Korean international students were making provocative remarks and staring at me, so I took out a weapon from the car trunk."

After police investigation, Zhou was sent to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on charges including attempted murder and socially dangerous acts. Taipei Mayor Chang Wan-an, upon receiving the report of the incident, ordered increased patrols in areas prone to drunken disturbances during early morning hours within the Ximending commercial district.

Local media expressed concern that this incident occurred amid a recent increase in Korean tourists visiting Taiwan, some of whom choose to study abroad.

The victim, A, stated on social media, "I went to Ximending to attend a friend's birthday party, and while passing in front of McDonald's to take the bus back to the school dormitory, I was stabbed by a stranger. I had never had any quarrel nor seen that person before."

He added, "I decided to study abroad because I thought Taiwan was a safe country, but after experiencing a random stabbing incident, my thoughts have changed. I hope others do not go through similar experiences."

The Korean Representative Office in Taipei reportedly provided consular assistance to A. A posted on social media, "I am grateful to the hospital staff, police, and officials from the Korean Embassy."

Fu Jen Catholic University, where the student is enrolled, stated in a press release, "The student is enrolled in the Chinese Language Center, and we will provide assistance if necessary."