South Korean Man, 24, Arrested Over Alleged Attempted Murder After Repeatedly Forcing Motorcycle Off Road in Kyoto
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Kyoto Prefectural Police announced by August 19, 2026 that it had arrested a 24-year-old South Korean national, a construction worker of no fixed address identified as Lee Nan-si (transliteration), on suspicion of attempted murder. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun Online report, the suspect is accused of driving a light passenger car at around 2:50-2:55 a.m. on June 12, 2026, on a street in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward, and repeatedly forcing a motorcycle traveling ahead of him off course over a stretch of roughly two kilometers, causing it to crash, with intent to kill the two riders, a man and woman both aged 19 to 20.
After the crash, the suspect allegedly confronted the fallen motorcyclist with threats such as, "How are you going to make this right?" and extorted a credit card from him; he has already been arrested and indicted on a separate extortion charge over that conduct. The new attempted-murder charge appears to reflect findings from the subsequent investigation into how dangerous the forced-off-the-road maneuver had been.
Current status: Whether the attempted-murder case will be referred for prosecution remains unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Other reported cases involving serious incidents linked to vehicles driven by South Korean nationals include one in which a 49-year-old man was re-arrested on suspicion of negligent driving causing injury after crashing a Bentley into seven vehicles at a red light in Hachioji, Tokyo, and fleeing the scene (related coverage), reported earlier in August.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.