On the morning of May 31, a man in his 60s set fire to a train on Seoul Subway Line 5 while it was traveling between Yeouinaru Station and Mapo Station. The suspect used a flammable liquid and a blowtorch to ignite a fire inside the fourth car of the moving train, forcing over 400 passengers to evacuate through the tunnel.
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| Arson Attack on Seoul Subway Line 5 on May 31 |
Fortunately, thanks to quick emergency measures, a major disaster was avoided. About 23 passengers sustained minor injuries from smoke inhalation or from collisions while escaping, but no fatalities occurred.
Police arrested the suspect on the spot. During interrogation, the man confessed that he committed the arson out of frustration over a divorce. Authorities have requested a pre-trial detention warrant on charges of arson and causing injury on public transportation.
The fire completely destroyed one train car, while two additional cars were damaged by smoke. The total estimated damage exceeds 330 million won. Seoul Metro is currently considering filing a civil lawsuit for compensation.
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| The 60s years old man was arrested after the arson attack on Seoul Subway Line 5 |
Officials credit the timely actions of the train operator and the enhanced fire safety systems implemented after the Daegu Subway Fire of 2003 for preventing a large-scale tragedy.
Key safety features that played a vital role include:
- Fire-resistant train interiors made from non-flammable materials like stainless steel
- Emergency alert systems and CCTV monitoring
- Manual emergency door openers inside train cars
The train operator, with 28 years of experience, stopped the train immediately upon detecting smoke, grabbed a fire extinguisher, and helped passengers fight the fire. He then drove the train to an emergency exit zone near Aeogae Station, facilitating a safer evacuation.
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| Passengers exvacuated due to the arson attack on May 31 |
Thanks to the manual emergency door release system, passengers were able to open doors and help each other evacuate. Witnesses reported passengers assisting elderly individuals and women as they jumped 1.5 meters down into the tunnel to escape safely.
Safety experts have praised this incident as a successful example of community resilience and system preparedness, but they also stressed the need for more public fire safety education. There is growing concern over the rise in arson attacks driven by social discontent, emphasizing the need for preventive awareness and rapid response training.
Learn Korean Through This News
Korean Text:
“서울 지하철 5호선 열차에 불을 지른 60대 남성이 구속 기로에 섰다. 피의자 원 모 씨는 이혼 소송 결과에 불만이 있어 공론화하기 위해 범행을 저질렀단 취지로 말했다.”
Key Vocabulary:
- 서울 지하철 5호선 (Seo-ul ji-ha-cheol o-ho-seon) – Seoul Subway Line 5
- 열차 (yeol-cha) – train
- 불을 지르다 (bul-eul ji-reu-da) – to set fire (to something), to commit arson
- 60대 남성 (yuk-sip-dae nam-seong) – a man in his 60s
- 구속 기로에 서다 (gu-sok gi-ro-e seo-da) – to be at the crossroads of being detained (awaiting potential arrest)
- 피의자 (pi-ui-ja) – suspect (in a criminal case)
- 이혼 소송 (i-hon so-song) – divorce lawsuit
- 불만이 있다 (bul-man-i it-da) – to be dissatisfied / to have complaints
- 공론화하다 (gong-ron-hwa-ha-da) – to bring into public discussion / to make public
- 범행을 저지르다 (beom-haeng-eul jeo-ji-reu-da) – to commit a crime
- 취지 (chwi-ji) – intent, purpose, meaning
Grammar Notes:
- ~에 불을 지르다 → “to set fire to ~”: 열차에 불을 지르다 = to set the train on fire
- ~기 위해(서) → “in order to ~”: 공론화하기 위해 = in order to bring (something) to public attention
- ~단 취지로 말했다 → “said with the intention that ~”: 범행을 저질렀단 취지로 말했다 = said that he committed the crime with that purpose in mind
Translation:
“A man in his 60s who set fire to a train on Seoul Subway Line 5 is now facing possible detention. The suspect, Mr. Won, stated that he committed the crime to draw public attention due to dissatisfaction with the outcome of his divorce lawsuit.”
References: daum news, nate news, namuwiki, TTHQ