Active Duty Soldier Arrested for Attempted Rape and Stabbing in Daejeon

An active duty soldier has been handed over to prosecutors after attempting to rape an unknown woman in broad daylight and subsequently stabbing her when the assault failed. The Daejeon Police Agency reported on January 17 that the soldier, identified as A (in his 20s), has been detained on charges of attempted murder and violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (attempted aggravated rape).

The incident occurred on January 8 at approximately 3:30 PM in a women's restroom of a building in Jung-gu, Daejeon. After failing to complete the assault, A allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times with a weapon before fleeing the scene. The victim sustained injuries to her head and other areas and was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, where she is currently reported to be in stable condition.

Upon receiving the report, police quickly apprehended A as he was found near the rooftop of a nearby apartment complex. They also recovered the weapon he discarded close to the crime scene. It was revealed that A had attempted to take his own life following the attack.

Investigations indicated that A did not know the victim prior to the incident and had followed her into the restroom. The weapon used in the attack was reportedly purchased in advance. A was on leave from his military duties and was scheduled to return to his base on the day of the incident.

Authorities stated, "This appears to be a crime without a specific motive, and given that A used a weapon capable of causing fatal injuries, it is reasonable to assume he anticipated the possibility of the victim's death, which is why the attempted murder charge was applied."