South Korea police returned a kitchen knife to Choi Choong-rak after a hospital protest in Incheon on 9 September, before he allegedly injured eight people on 13 October, a report citing police data states.
The suspect had come under investigation over the protest before the attack. Officers seized a weapon on 6 October, confirmed his attempted murder record and electronic tracking anklet, and notified his probation officer, but did not take him into custody.
