A 67-year-old man surnamed Won, has been indicted for setting a subway train on fire during Seoul’s morning rush hour on May 31, putting the lives of nearly 160 passengers at risk. Prosecutors charged him with attempted murder, arson on a moving train, and violating the Railway Safety Act. The blaze caused damages estimated at over 300 million Won and sent commuters fleeing in panic.
The fire began at 8:42 a.m. on Line 5, shortly after the train entered the tunnel under the Han River between Yeouinaru and Mapo stations. Security footage showed Won calmly pouring gasoline from a plastic bottle in the fourth car before igniting it. Authorities say the attack may have been driven by personal anger linked to his recent divorce. He remains in custody.
Surveillance footage from inside the train revealed the harrowing moments when the suspect, wearing a white cap, suddenly poured gasoline across the floor of the crowded subway car. Passengers stood in confusion before panic set in. As the fuel spread, chaos erupted—commuters scrambled to escape, with one pregnant woman slipping and losing her shoe while crawling to safety. Within 20 seconds of ignition, flames swept through the carriage.
Won reportedly used a lighter to ignite a piece of clothing soaked in gasoline. Despite the rapid spread of the fire, there were no fatalities. Six people were injured, and 23, including the suspect, were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Over 120 others received medical care at the scene.
Authorities say Won admitted to planning the attack out of anger over a divorce ruling. He told investigators that he had purchased the gasoline two weeks earlier with the intention of using it to set the train on fire. Prosecutors described his act as a calculated attempt to cause mass harm, likening it to terrorism due to the scale of risk involved.
The blaze damaged one subway car and caused smoke damage to two others, with estimated losses of around 330 million won. Officials noted that if the evacuation had been delayed even slightly, the consequences could have been far more severe. The quick response from passengers and metro staff likely prevented a greater tragedy.
Won now faces serious charges, including attempted murder, arson on a moving train, and violations of the Railroad Safety Act. Prosecutors have identified 160 passengers as victims, although the train had 481 people on board. As the investigation continues, the case has raised renewed concerns about public safety and mental health oversight in South Korea’s transportation system.
Won was arrested shortly after the fire and formally detained following a court-issued warrant on June 2. Investigators confirmed that he acted out of anger over a recent divorce ruling. A psychological assessment found that Won did not show signs of psychopathy, suggesting that the act was deliberate rather than driven by mental illness. He was handed over to prosecutors on June 9.
While all passengers managed to escape without fatal injuries, the incident exposed a major safety gap in the subway system. Real-time footage from the onboard surveillance cameras was not transmitted to control centers, delaying awareness and response from outside authorities. Lawmakers have since called for urgent upgrades to monitoring systems and emergency protocols across Seoul’s metro network to prevent similar threats in the future.
