A man in his 50s was fatally stabbed while live-streaming on YouTube outside the Busan District Court, authorities confirmed on May 9. The victim, a South Korean YouTuber with around 4,000 subscribers, was attacked during a visit to the court for a trial. The assailant, also in his 50s, was apprehended by the Busan Metropolitan Police following the incident.
The stabbing occurred around 9:52 a.m. in front of the Busan District Court, shocking citizens in the bustling city. Despite efforts to save him, the victim succumbed to his injuries after being found in cardiac arrest and rushed to a nearby hospital.
The suspect, also in his 50s and acquainted with the victim, is a YouTuber with roughly 8,000 subscribers. Police arrived at the scene following reports of the stabbing at 9:52 a.m., where they found the victim in critical condition.
Despite medical efforts, he was declared deceased at 11:04 a.m. The suspect, fleeing the scene in a rental car, was detained around 11:35 a.m. in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province.
Identified as a man in his 50s, the assailant escaped in a vehicle after the attack but was captured approximately two hours later in Gyeongju, around 70 kilometers away from Busan. Authorities stated both men, YouTubers who shared a conflicted relationship, were acquainted prior to the incident.
Following the tragedy, the suspect made three posts on his YouTube channel’s community section. In the initial post, he apologized to his subscribers and expressed resentment towards an individual he believed had caused harm to others’ happiness. In his final post before his arrest in Gyeongju, he expressed regret for not being able to enjoy the ocean and thanked his subscribers.
Authorities suspect that unresolved legal conflicts may have been a driving force behind the murder. Additionally, individuals working in the Legal Town area noted the severity of the attack, indicating that the weapon used was sharp and large. Police are currently interrogating the suspect regarding the crime’s motive and circumstances.