Prosecutors indict suspect in LG stabbing spree, say firing blamed for violent outburst never happened

A contractor who seriously injured two employees in a stabbing spree at an LG Electronics office last month has been indicted for attempted murder, according to prosecutors on Tuesday, who said the firing the suspect claimed drove him to violence never even actually happened.

The suspect, a man surnamed Jeong, worked for a subcontractor at LG Electronics' Magok building in Gangseo District, western Seoul. He attacked two colleagues with a knife at around 11 a.m. on May 27, seriously inflicting a side wound on one man and a slash to an arm on another. Both were taken to hospital for treatment. Jeong fled by subway after the attack but was apprehended by police at Digital Media City station on Line 6.

During police and prosecutorial questioning, Jeong claimed he had carried out the attack in a rage after being told he was fired, and alleged that LG Electronics team leaders and staff had singled him out for shouting, condescension and mistreatment. The victims, however, told investigators that Jeong had been struggling with his workload and that a request had been made through his subcontractor to "reassign him."

Prosecutors confirmed that no dismissal notice was ever issued.

"As confirmed during the investigation, the defendant interpreted a request by LG Electronics to rotate the personnel assigned to a project as a notice of dismissal, and committed the crime on that basis," the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office said.

 “The company does not have the authority to dismiss employees of its subcontractors,” an LG Electronics representative said. “We did request that the subcontractor rotate personnel assigned to the project handled by Jeong, and it was the subcontractor who subsequently informed Jeong that he would be reassigned to a different project.”

Prosecutors described the case as serious, saying the suspect had "stabbed two victims from behind multiple times with a hiking knife, putting lives at risk," and vowed to pursue the case vigorously to ensure he receives a sentence commensurate with the severity of the offense.

BY KIM JEONG-JAE [[email protected]]