A woman in her thirties has been taken into police custody in South Korea following a violent knife attack on a man she met through a dating application. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, has thrown a spotlight on the potential dangers of online dating platforms.
Details of the Violent Encounter
According to the Cheonan Seobuk police station in South Chungcheong province, the suspect was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault. The attack took place at around 12.40am inside a multiplex-style residential building, as reported by The Korea Herald.
Police stated that the woman is accused of stabbing the man, who is in his forties, multiple times. This was their first face-to-face meeting after initially connecting online. The victim sustained injuries to his arm and face and was taken to a nearby hospital by emergency services. Authorities have indicated that his condition is not believed to be life-threatening.
The Arrest and Ongoing Investigation
Following the assault, the suspect fled the scene. However, officers tracked her movements using closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage. She was apprehended roughly five hours later at a location in the neighbouring Gyeonggi province.
Investigators are now preparing to apply for a formal arrest warrant. A key focus of the ongoing probe is establishing the motive behind the stabbing and the full circumstances that led to the violent assault.
The Broader Context of Online Dating Risks in South Korea
This alarming incident comes amid growing concerns over the safety and integrity of online dating in South Korea. Official data reveals a significant rise in romance scams. Between January and September last year, South Korea reported 1,565 cases of such scams, where criminals build fake romantic relationships online to exploit victims.
This marked an increase from 1,265 cases during the same period the previous year. According to data released by lawmaker Han Byung Do of the Democratic Party of Korea, the total financial losses from these scams reached 100 billion won (approximately $7 million), surpassing 2024’s total of 68 billion won.
Furthermore, dating apps in the country are reportedly losing popularity among young adults. Issues cited include low match quality, fake accounts, and user fatigue. Interestingly, a 2023 report noted that roughly 80 per cent of dating app users in South Korea were men, though women spent more time on the apps monthly.
The problem is not confined to South Korea. In a related development, Shanghai police recently busted a dating-app fraud syndicate, arresting 77 suspects. The gang, active since November 2024, allegedly used AI-generated profiles and paid chat systems to scam victims.
