POLICE IDENTIFIED THE SHOOTER'S FATHER AS CHO SEONG-TAE, 61

Father's age:


South Korea's largest newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported that Cho's family was poor when they lived in a Seoul suburb and decided to emigrate to seek a better life.

The family lived in a rented, basement apartment - usually the cheapest unit in a multi-apartment building, the newspaper reported quoting building owner Lim Bong-ae, 67. Police identified the shooter's father as Cho Seong-tae, 61.

"I didn't know what (Cho's father) did for a living. But they lived a poor life," Lim told the newspaper. "While emigrating, (Cho's father) said they were going to America because it is difficult to live here and that it's better to live in a place where he is unknown."

Meanwhile, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun held a special meeting with aides today to discuss the shooting, as the public expressed shame over a South Korean citizen being identified as the gunman.

Roh was to speak publicly about the tragedy later in the day, his office said, without elaborating on what the president discussed at the meeting with aides.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sung Cho, 61, and Hyang Cho, 56, kept a low profile in the small town, attending services at the Korean Presbyterian Church and planting lettuce in the backyard of their home.