Passenger Recalls Terrifying Subway Arson Incident in Seoul

On the morning of May 31, around 8:42 AM, a 67-year-old man named Won set fire to a train traveling between Yeoinaru Station and Mapo Station on Seoul's Subway Line 5. A passenger, identified as A, who was standing next to the arsonist, shared his harrowing experience in an interview with Yonhap News TV on June 26. Initially, A thought someone had spilled water or coffee when he heard a 'whoosh' sound. However, as screams erupted around him, he quickly realized the gravity of the situation. He described seeing a yellow liquid spreading across the floor and, within seconds, recognized it as gasoline. Instinctively, A and other passengers rushed towards the front of the train. When he glanced back, flames were already reaching the ceiling where he had just been standing. The train came to a halt in a dark tunnel, and with the help of a middle-aged man, A managed to escape and began walking through the tunnel, relying on his phone's flashlight as thick smoke billowed behind him. He recalled feeling a sense of relief upon spotting the lights of Mapo Station and the approaching firefighters. A also mentioned that a pregnant woman had fallen and grabbed him during the chaos, but he only realized this later, having injured his knee while fleeing. Nearly a month after the incident, A has developed a habit of scanning his surroundings whenever he boards the subway, expressing ongoing anxiety about using public transport. He stated, 'I have no choice but to keep using the subway, but I feel uneasy every time I do. I tried to watch the CCTV footage released on the 25th, but I was too shaken to do so.' A emphasized that crimes targeting the general public should never be taken lightly and called for severe punishment to ensure citizens can use public transport without fear. On June 25, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office announced that they had indicted Won on charges of attempted murder, arson, and violations of the Railway Safety Act. He is accused of attempting to kill 160 passengers, including himself, by pouring gasoline on the train floor and igniting it, resulting in injuries to six passengers. The prosecutors also released CCTV footage showing the moment Won poured gasoline from a bottle, causing panic among passengers who screamed and rushed to the front of the train. The footage captured a pregnant woman slipping on the gasoline and falling, which sparked outrage among netizens. Despite the chaos, the train's conductor guided passengers to safety, and the calm response of the passengers was noted by the prosecutors as a sign of mature civic awareness.