25.05.19.Today News : Shiheung Stabbing: 2 Dead, Suspect Caught in 10 Hours / Another fatal accident at the SPC Samlip bakery factory

1. Shiheung Stabbing: 2 Dead, Suspect Caught in 10 Hours

• 57-year-old Cha Cheol-nam, who targeted acquaintances over financial grudges, was arrested in Cheonan after a multi-location stabbing spree; police confirm no relation to recent "mudjima" cases.

A shocking serial stabbing occurred in Shiheung, Gyeonggi Province, on May 19, leaving two people dead and two others seriously injured. The perpetrator, 57-year-old Cha Cheol-nam, who personally knew all the victims, was apprehended in Cheonan approximately 10 hours after the initial crime. The incident, initially feared to be another indiscriminate attack, was revealed to stem from personal vendettas related to longstanding financial disputes.

Cha Chul-nam, who went on a stabbing rampage in Siheung and killed two people, has been arrested.

The stabbing spree began at 9:34 a.m. in Jeongwang-dong, Shiheung, when Cha stabbed a woman in her 60s, the owner of a local convenience store. She suffered severe injuries to her abdomen and face and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. Police, analyzing CCTV footage and witness accounts, identified a vehicle connected to the suspect and proceeded to the address registered to it.

There, they discovered the body of a man in his 50s, believed to have been murdered hours earlier. Investigators later confirmed that the vehicle had been lent to the man by another acquaintance. Following the trail, authorities located Cha's current whereabouts and arrested him around 7:30 p.m. in Seongjeong-dong, Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.

A total of four victims have been identified: two fatalities (a man in his 50s and a man in his 60s) and two injured individuals (a man and a woman in their 60s). Cha has reportedly admitted to all four attacks, stating he harbored deep resentment over past financial disputes. Police emphasized that the victims were all personally known to the suspect and that the incident bore no resemblance to recent random "mudjima" crimes that have unsettled the public.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the exact timeline and motives behind the crimes, including any additional connections among the victims.

One-line summary : Cha Cheol-nam, who stabbed four people in Shiheung, was arrested within 10 hours and claimed financial grudges as his motive.

---

---

2. Another fatal accident at the SPC Samlip bakery factory

• Democratic Party and New Future sharply criticize Lee’s idea, arguing it seeks to turn the prosecution into a political tool; ruling bloc remains cautious in its response.

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, sparked political uproar on May 18 by proposing a constitutional amendment that would allow a presidential candidate to run alongside a Prosecutor General as a vice-presidential-style “running mate.” The opposition parties swiftly condemned the idea, accusing Lee of attempting to revive authoritarian practices by politicizing the prosecution.

Another fatality at the SPC bread factory.

At the heart of Lee’s proposal is the idea that voters should be able to select a Prosecutor General in tandem with the president, thereby strengthening the prosecutorial institution’s independence and public accountability. Lee emphasized that the “running mate Prosecutor General” would bolster trust in investigations and prevent partisan manipulation of criminal probes.

However, major opposition parties were quick to reject the idea. Democratic Party spokesperson Kang Sun-woo accused Lee of trying to turn the prosecution into a political instrument of the executive branch, saying, “What Lee is suggesting is not reform, but a return to the days of authoritarian rule.” The Democratic Party also expressed concern that such a system could empower a small elite to suppress dissent under the guise of legality.

The New Future party also voiced strong opposition. A senior official commented anonymously that “aligning the presidency with the Prosecutor General is a dangerous concentration of power that undermines democratic checks and balances.” They called on the public to recognize the risks of such institutional changes and reject the notion outright.

On the other hand, the ruling bloc refrained from a direct response. Officials from the ruling People Power Party noted that while Lee’s proposal is unconventional, it merits further discussion within the broader context of prosecutorial reform. They stressed, however, that no official party stance had been formed on the issue.

Lee Jun-seok, undeterred by the criticism, reiterated his position via social media and promised to unveil a more detailed constitutional amendment draft in the coming weeks. As political tensions mount ahead of the next election cycle, his proposal appears to be setting the stage for a broader debate on the separation of powers and institutional reform in South Korea.

One-line summary : A female worker in her 50s died at SPC Samlip’s Siwha plant, triggering renewed public outrage over repeated industrial accidents at SPC facilities.