Woman with police smartwatch stabbed by ex-husband in Seongnam; suspect arrested
In short
A woman in her 60s who asked police for protection on 16 October and was given a smartwatch was stabbed at her home in Bundang, Seongnam, on 19 October. Police arrested her former husband, a man in his 60s, about two hours later in Seoul on suspicion of attempted murder. No emergency call was made from the watch, and police are reviewing their protection steps.
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A woman in her 60s who had asked police for protection three days earlier was stabbed at her home in Bundang district, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on 19 October. Bundang police said they arrested a man in his 60s, her former husband, on an emergency basis on suspicion of attempted murder. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
According to police as relayed by the outlets, the man waited at her front door from about 08:05 and pushed his way in when she opened it to leave for work, then swung a knife. Her family saw on the door CCTV that he entered and then fled at about 08:23, and they called 112 at about 08:30 when they could not reach her. Police and fire crews found her bleeding in the living room and took her to a nearby hospital, where she was conscious but had difficulty communicating. Dong-A Ilbo reported that she was in critical condition, while Chosun Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo said she was seriously injured. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 ]
Seoul police, asked to assist, arrested the man at about 10:19 in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, roughly two hours after he fled. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Maeil Business said he was found carrying a knife outside the home of the woman's sister and that the sister was unharmed. Newsis reported that police traced him after the family said he was on bad terms with the sister. [ 1 , 4 , 15 , 16 ]
On 16 October the woman had gone to a police station with her daughter and an acquaintance to ask for protection and a smartwatch. She said her former husband, from whom she had been divorced for three years, had phoned once to suggest a family meal at home, and that she felt anxious. Police designated 16 October to 15 November as a crime-victim safety period, issued the watch and arranged patrols linked to 112. No emergency call was made from the watch during the attack; police believe he pushed in the moment the door opened, leaving her no time to press the button. [ 1 , 4 , 5 ]
Police said there was no history of domestic-violence or stalking reports between the two and no specific statements of threats, so no formal criminal case or restraining-type emergency or provisional measures were taken. They said only safety measures were carried out at the victim side's request. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Maeil Business added that police had explained a formal case, a warning to the man and temporary housing, but her side declined because it could provoke him. Maeil Business and Newsis reported that she mentioned having been injured in the head by the man with an object during the marriage, and Maeil Business reported that he returned from Middle East work in July and visited her home unannounced on 12 October. [ 1 , 4 , 15 , 16 ]
Police said they would investigate the motive and are questioning the counselling officers about whether the initial risk assessment and protection measures were adequate. On 20 October Yonhap reported that police would seek an arrest warrant and that the man declined to state a motive. [ 1 , 4 , 18 ]
Why it matters
The case has prompted police to check whether the initial risk assessment and protection measures were adequate, according to the outlets. Yonhap framed it as the latest in a run of attacks on women under police protection.
Key facts
- On 19 October at about 08:05 a man in his 60s is suspected of pushing into the Bundang home of his ex-wife, also in her 60s, as she opened the door to leave for work, and attacking her with a knife. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- Police arrested him on an emergency basis on suspicion of attempted murder at about 10:19 in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, roughly two hours after he fled. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- The woman was found bleeding in her living room and taken to hospital; she was conscious but had difficulty communicating. [ 1 , 5 ]
- She had visited a police station on 16 October, asked for protection and was given a smartwatch; police also set up 112-linked patrols near her home. [ 1 , 4 ]
- No emergency call was made from the smartwatch; police believe she had no time to press the button. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Police are examining whether the initial risk assessment and protection measures were adequate. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- On 20 October Yonhap reported that police would seek an arrest warrant and that the suspect declined to state a motive. [ 18 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Bundang police arrested a man in his 60s on an emergency basis on suspicion of attempted murder after his ex-wife was stabbed at her home on 19 October. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 15 ]
- The man waited at her front door, pushed in when she opened it to leave for work, and swung a knife, according to police as relayed by the outlets. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 7 ]
- The woman's family saw the man on door CCTV entering the home and leaving at about 08:23 and reported to 112 at about 08:30. [ 1 , 5 , 8 , 10 ]
- The woman asked police for protection on 16 October, three days earlier, saying her ex-husband, divorced three years ago, had phoned about a family meal at home. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 15 ]
- Police designated 16 October to 15 November as a crime-victim safety period, issued a smartwatch and arranged 112-linked patrols. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 10 ]
- No formal criminal case or restraining-type emergency or provisional measures had been taken against the man before the attack. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 10 , 15 ]
Still unclear
- The woman's current condition. Dong-A Ilbo said she was in critical condition, Chosun Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo said she was seriously injured, and other outlets said only that she was conscious but had difficulty communicating on arrival at hospital.
- The man's motive. Police said they would investigate it; Yonhap reported on 20 October that he declined to state a motive.
- Why no formal case or restraining measures were in place. Yonhap said police cited the absence of prior domestic-violence or stalking reports and of specific statements of harm; Kyunghyang Shinmun and Maeil Business said police offered a formal case and a warning to the man but her side declined, fearing it could provoke him.
- Background on the man, including work in the Middle East, a return to Korea in July, an unannounced visit on 12 October and an earlier injury she said he caused during the marriage. Reported only by Maeil Business and, in part, Newsis.
- Whether police protection steps were adequate. Police said they are checking the officers' initial risk assessment and protection measures; no findings are reported.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The man arrives at the woman's home in Bundang, waits at the door and attacks her when she opens it. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
- Family sees on CCTV that the man fled the house. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Family reports to 112; police and fire crews find the woman and take her to hospital. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Seoul police arrest the man in Jungnang-gu. [ 1 , 5 ]
- Yonhap reports on 20 October that police will seek an arrest warrant and that the man declined to state a motive. [ 18 ]