SEOUL, South Korea (BN24) —Three people were killed in a rare stabbing incident at a pizza restaurant in Seoul’s Gwanak district on Wednesday, marking a shocking act of violence in one of Asia’s safest capitals.
Authorities said the attacker, identified as the owner of the restaurant, fatally stabbed three individuals — two men and one woman — during a dispute with contractors. The altercation reportedly escalated into violence at around 11:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT).
Seoul police confirmed in a statement that they had received an emergency call from one of the victims saying, “Help me, I’ve been stabbed.”
Emergency responders transported the victims to a nearby hospital, but all three were pronounced dead shortly after arrival, authorities said.
The suspect, a man in his 40s, attempted to take his own life following the attack but was prevented from doing so at the scene by responding officers. He is currently receiving medical treatment and is expected to be taken into custody once his condition stabilizes, police said.
Violent crimes such as this are highly unusual in South Korea, a country with a relatively low homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to official statistics. That rate is well below the global average of approximately six per 100,000.
The motive behind the confrontation is still under investigation, though preliminary reports indicate it stemmed from a business dispute.
The incident has sparked public concern, with local media noting the rarity of such violence in Seoul, a city widely regarded for its low crime rate and public safety.
Police say they will conduct a full investigation, including interviews with witnesses and review of surveillance footage from the scene.
