Ex-Professor Shoots Judge with Bow

It was found on January 16 that former professor of Sungkyunkwan University Kim Myeong-ho staked out the residence of senior appeals court judge Park Hong-woo whom he shot with an arrow. Kim had planned the attack, visiting the location multiple times, having another weapon handy. With these revelations, the Seoul Songpa Police plan to request an arrest warrant for attempted murder.

Weapons and rope prepared-

Kim stated during a police interrogation that he found the judge’s address from the list of public servants’ assets in the government newspaper. Kim identified the judge’s face during the trial, and found his license plate number and learned of time when the judge left his office while picketing on his own in front of the court building.

Before the attack, Kim went to the judge’s apartment building 3-4 times to identify the floor and number of the judge’s apartment.

On the day of the attack, Kim had with him a crossbow, nine arrows, and a 35cm-long knife and a 6.6m-long vinyl rope that he bought at Jongno 2-ga on January 1.

Kim stated about the arrow, “I registered the crossbow at Dongjak Police Station for recreational use. Of the 20 arrows I received with the crossbow, I practiced with 11 and brought the rest out with me.”

The police revealed that Kim was hiding in the second floor stairs with a loaded crossbow and two extra arrows stuck in his belt. “Judge Park Hong-woo, you call that a decision?” he cried. Even after he was restrained by a security guard, Kim tried to reload his crossbow, shouting, “I will kill him.” But Kim failed to do so because of the driver’s interference.

The police think that the attack was premeditated and that Kim had intention to kill the judge, based on the fact that Kim had other weapons, and that one needed to press the trigger to fire the crossbow.

But Kim denied the allegations of homicidal intention, and stated, “I intended to just threaten the judge with the crossbow and ask him why he brought such a partial decision, and the arrow was shot accidentally during a struggle.”

Kim had written many posts on his website about the judge, saying he “does not read prepared documents, and consciously ignores testimony.” On the day before the attack, he wrote, “Most judges are crooked.”

Supreme Court orders protection for judges-

On 16, the Supreme Court held an emergency meeting, presided over by Jang Yun-gi, the administrative head of the court. The court ordered, “For cases where offensive behavior and confusion are expected, order in the court must be maintained through tighter security, and we must review the current security situation around the courts and the government building, and find necessary protective measures.”

“Watch carefully people picketing alone, making vicious complaints, and anyone suspicious around the court. “Any judge that may feel there is possible danger in relation to a case he/she is presiding, he/she must work with the police to set up protection.”

The Supreme Court plans patrol in and around the court building to identify any threats, and on the 19th, a national court presidents’ meeting will be convened to analyze continuous attacks against court officers and come up with countermeasures.

The participants of the emergency meeting said, “This case is not an expression of dissatisfaction of an individual unhappy with the outcome of a case. This is a highly senseless and evil crime. This is a challenge to the judiciary and an act of terror against the rule of law.”

On official with the Supreme Court stated, “Many at the meeting also were reflecting on the past. At the national court presidents’ meeting, this will be discussed along with a review of all aspects of the courts.”

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Lee Yong-hun, is avoiding releasing an official statement. He offered no comments to reporter’s questions on his way to his office in the morning.

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