Police said Tuesday they will refer Cha Cheol-nam, a 56-year-old Chinese national of Korean descent, to prosecutors on charges of murder and attempted murder. He is accused of fatally stabbing two brothers and injuring two others in a series of attacks in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, earlier this month.
Investigators said Cha planned the crimes in advance, citing surveillance footage, financial transactions, and phone records. He allegedly began preparations in early May, purchasing weapons and monitoring his targets before carrying out the attacks on May 17.
Before his arrest, Cha also stabbed a convenience store owner and his landlord in separate attacks on May 19, leaving both seriously injured. Police said he committed the additional assaults after spending two days hiding inside the victims’ stolen vehicle and believing he had nothing more to lose.
Investigators believe Cha first lured the elder brother to his home for drinks and killed him before moving to a nearby house to kill the younger sibling. Autopsies showed both men died from blunt-force trauma to the head. Cha reportedly acted out of anger, claiming the brothers had failed to repay a 30 million won (around $21,500) debt.
Police said Cha prepared for the attacks in early May, purchasing weapons and tracking the brothers’ movements. However, no record of the alleged loan was found in his financial accounts. They also noted that Cha had entered South Korea in 2012 with an F-4 visa and lived doing odd jobs or selling used items online.
Regarding the later stabbings, Cha claimed the victims had insulted or disrespected him. However, police found no serious disputes between them. A psychological assessment ruled out psychopathy, suggesting the crimes stemmed more from personal frustration than mental illness.
Following a nationwide alert, Cha was apprehended near Siheung Lake on the afternoon of May 19. A psychological evaluation found he does not exhibit signs of psychopathy. He is now being transferred to prosecutors and is expected to face charges of murder and attempted murder.
