No Hong-chul

By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

Popular TV entertainer No Hong-chul, 29, was attacked in the corridor of his apartment building in Apgujeong-dong, southern Seoul Tuesday night by a 20-something man with a history of mental illness, police said.

The offender identified as Kim was apprehended on the scene by police.

No was immediately taken to a hospital in Sinchon, Northwestern Seoul. According to the hospital, the celebrity's left ear had a three-centimeter cut and he had injuries to his neck and back.

``It will take at least two weeks for him to fully recover,'' said Kim Young-jin, a doctor at Sinchon Yonsei Hospital. ``He underwent surgery Tuesday night to stitch up the ear. The pain he feels is not that severe, but he will need intense treatment for some more days.''

According to Gangnam Police Station handling the case, No arrived at his apartment around 8 p.m. after shooting a TV program. The entertainer, who thought Kim was one of his fans waiting for him, greeted him first, but the stranger suddenly punched and kicked him for no apparent reason.

The offender told police that he attacked No because the popular comedian would hurt his father. Police requested a mental checkup.

``If possible, I would like to return to my work immediately,'' No told reporters at the hospital Wednesday. No said he did not want to lay charges him as the offender was not in his right mind.

Meanwhile, Gangnam Police Station released Kim Wednesday morning, saying the investigation will continue without physical detention at the request of No.

No, a key member of MBC TV's hit ``Infinite Challenge,'' is one of the guests invited to the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Lee Myung-bak next Monday.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr