Alarming rise in random killing

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-24 07:55

In the random killing in Seoul on Monday morning that left six people dead, we are seeing the ghastly result of a defective personality pitched against social adversity.

The alleged killer, identified as Chung, 31, reportedly told police interrogators that he killed people because the "sesang", which means either society or simply the people around him, "ignored" him. He also said he wanted to die, but he chose to end others' lives, unable to take his own.

Let's take a look at the man first. Chung left his hometown in a southern province for Seoul in 2002. He had been engaged in sundry jobs, living in a shoe-box apartment with some 85 individual rooms on two floors big enough for just a few normal housing units. He was unable to pay the rent and the fine for his negligence in reservist duties. It was a typical loser's life in the extremely competitive environs of Seoul.

He set up a plan and made preparations to carry it out, according to a police report. On the morning of the killing, he strapped knives to his legs, carried a gas gun in his pocket, wrapped himself in a black jumper and black pants, and wore a black ski mask with goggles. He doused his own bed with gasoline, then set fire to it and stabbed several women as they came out of adjoining rooms, alerted by the smoke from the fire. He ran to the upper floor and attacked more tenants. He was captured by police while hiding in a compartment near his room.

Thus, one of the most heinous crimes in recent years was committed. Most of the victims were women from China who were working in restaurants in the nearby Yeongdong market. Psychologists give their opinion that Chung chose the powerless victims because they were "at hand", although he might have wanted to destroy a bigger structure and attack more powerful people to take revenge on the "sesang" for what he considered to be its unjust treatment.

Experts found weaknesses in him that compromised his selection of victims and stopped him from killing himself but led him to wield his knife against anyone in sight. The growing frequency of random killings indicate the pervasiveness of sick minds that turn to violence against the weak to vent their frustrations with their surroundings, jobs and relationships.

It is appalling to know that there may be many more Chungs who are preparing grisly crimes against "sesang" today. The South Korean society should combine all its resources - including civic groups, the media, religious establishments and government authorities - to find these people and treat their mental illnesses before they commit violent acts.

The health authorities need to expand public access to the treatment of mental illnesses through the universal insurance system. At all segments of society, whether in schools, work places or military camps, counseling services by trained personnel should be made available. Individuals should have no aversion to seeking an expert opinion. Like in Western societies, they should discuss mental problems with specialists, just as they do physical ones. Everyone has problems in this stressful society of relentless competition.

Much thought is being given to what to do about the growing number of suicides in our society, which have reached the highest level in the world. The same attention should be directed to the most unfortunate phenomenon of random attacks before the nation earns further notoriety for such incidents.

The Korea Herald/Asia News Network

(China Daily 10/24/2008 page9)