Man arrested for stabbing vendor, claims he sought prison due to financial hardship

Authorities in Muju, South Korea, have requested an arrest warrant for a man in his 40s accused of stabbing a street vendor with whom he had no prior acquaintance. The incident occurred around 12:50 p.m. on the previous day in a market in Muju-eup.

The victim, identified only as Mr. B, in his 60s, suffered injuries to his abdomen and shoulder but is reportedly not in critical condition. Police apprehended the suspect, identified as Mr. A, approximately two hours after the attack at a bus terminal as he attempted to flee.

Investigations revealed that Mr. A had finished eating at a restaurant within the market and then used a knife from a nearby stall to stab Mr. B, who was operating his shop next door. Police are treating the act as attempted murder, having changed the charge from aggravated assault.

During questioning, Mr. A allegedly stated that he was struggling with financial difficulties and intended to commit a crime to be sent to prison. He has a history of similar offenses. A police official indicated that they plan to investigate Mr. A's psychological state through profiling to understand his motives further.