Kim Kijong is an anti-U.S. activist with nationalistic views.
Here is a article that talks about his political background as well as his posts regarding his opposition against the US-Korean joint military exercises. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/05/kim-ki-jong-attack-korea-ambassador_n_6810580.html But looking at his recent background, it tells us a different perspective on the attack as well. In 2007, he attempted to burn himself to death in front of the Korean Blue House, and in 2010 he threw a cement pieces to the ambassador of Japan to Korea, and was sentenced to jail for 2 years. And in 2015, he slashed the US ambassador to Korea. In the suicidal note that he wrote in 2007 before attempting to burn himself to death, there are clear evidence that tells us that he had suffered from mental illness. From heroizing himself by referencing himself as the 3rd person in his suicidal note, to talking about his failures to get into the most prestigious school, experts say he is exhibiting a sociopathic behaviors. Here is a news article (in Korean) that talks more about his mental issues and his pasts in chronological order: http://h21.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/politics_general/39144.html |
March 5th, 2015 US ambassador to South Korea was attack in a conference regarding the reunification of South and North Korea. The attacker slashed the ambassador's face and hand, and screamed out anti-war phrases after he was detained. (To read more about the attack, here is a news report from Washington Times that also contains the video of the attack) http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/4/mark-lippert-us-ambassador-south-korea-attacked/?page=all Both political parties are using this story as a political means, however looking at the attackers history, it raises more concerns regarding mental health and how Korea is handling this issue. |
What is a Sociopath?
According to dictionary.com, sociopath is defined as the following.
Sociopath is a little different from psychopath in way that they lack a sense of moral responsibility yet, they are not completely deprived of the morality like psychopath. According the Robert Hare who popularized the word sociopath, he describes psychopathy as not having a sense of empathy or morality, but sociopathy as only differing in sense of right and wrong from the average person.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy
Sociopath is a little different from psychopath in way that they lack a sense of moral responsibility yet, they are not completely deprived of the morality like psychopath. According the Robert Hare who popularized the word sociopath, he describes psychopathy as not having a sense of empathy or morality, but sociopathy as only differing in sense of right and wrong from the average person.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy
Recent Cases of Sociopath/Psychopaths in Korea
There has been several news reports on unexplainable crimes in Korea recently.
March.17 2015 - 2 Killed, 1 Injured in Random Attack in Jinju (진주의 묻지마살인)
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150317000475 (English)
http://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201503180100221120014323&servicedate=20150317 (Korean)
Feb. 23 2015 - Family Stabbed in Random Attack in Chunan
http://news.donga.com/DKBNEWS/3/all/20150223/69758239/3 (Korean)
Feb. 5 2015 - Man killed in Hiking Trail by Random Attacker in Suwon
http://news1.kr/articles/?2081261 (Korean)
Just in the last month, there was a 3 random attacks that led to deaths of 3 people. To reference more of well-known cases of sociopathic crimes, there were also Sergent Im who shot his military mates in a shooting spree, and a 69 year-old man who burned down Namdaemun, Korean artifact.
South Korean Gate Destroyed in Fire- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/world/asia/12korea.html?_r=0
Army Sgt. kills five soldiers - http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/06/116_159581.html
These events raises concerns about the mental illness among our society and how we are handling or mishandling it.
March.17 2015 - 2 Killed, 1 Injured in Random Attack in Jinju (진주의 묻지마살인)
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20150317000475 (English)
http://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201503180100221120014323&servicedate=20150317 (Korean)
Feb. 23 2015 - Family Stabbed in Random Attack in Chunan
http://news.donga.com/DKBNEWS/3/all/20150223/69758239/3 (Korean)
Feb. 5 2015 - Man killed in Hiking Trail by Random Attacker in Suwon
http://news1.kr/articles/?2081261 (Korean)
Just in the last month, there was a 3 random attacks that led to deaths of 3 people. To reference more of well-known cases of sociopathic crimes, there were also Sergent Im who shot his military mates in a shooting spree, and a 69 year-old man who burned down Namdaemun, Korean artifact.
South Korean Gate Destroyed in Fire- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/world/asia/12korea.html?_r=0
Army Sgt. kills five soldiers - http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2014/06/116_159581.html
These events raises concerns about the mental illness among our society and how we are handling or mishandling it.