Man in His 50s Sets Fire Out of Despair, Suffers Second-Degree Burns

Arson on the Stairs... Burns to Face and Abdomen
Materials Burned, Property Damage... Police Launch Investigation

Gwangju Bukbu Police Station.

A man in his 50s set fire to the stairs of a building in Buk-gu, Gwangju, and was taken to the hospital with burns. Police have booked him on suspicion of arson of an inhabited building and have launched an investigation.

According to the Gwangju Bukbu Police Station on May 23, a 55-year-old man, identified as A, is suspected of setting fire to the stairs of a building in Duam-dong, Buk-gu, at around 1:08 p.m. the previous day.

The fire was extinguished within five minutes, but A suffered second-degree burns to his face and abdomen. The fire also caused approximately 100,000 won in property damage as interior materials inside the building were burned.

The police investigation found that A committed the act due to despair over his personal circumstances. Police plan to investigate the details of the incident further once A completes his medical treatment.