Seoul police refer suspect in mother-in-law killing and wife's abduction to prosecutors
In short
Police referred Kim Seong-u (김성우), 26, to prosecutors on October 20 on suspicion of killing his mother-in-law and abducting his wife in Seoul's Songpa district. His name, age and photograph were disclosed the previous day.
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Seoul police referred Kim Seong-u (김성우), 26, to prosecutors on October 20 on suspicion of killing his mother-in-law and abducting his wife in Songpa district. Kyunghyang Shinmun reported that he was handed over while in custody. Yonhap also reported the referral, identifying Kim as a social service worker. [ 36 , 37 ]
Police had disclosed his name, age and photograph on October 19. The information was posted on the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency website from 6 p.m. for 30 days. The disclosure committee said the seriousness of the harm, the brutality of the alleged methods and sufficient evidence justified publication, alongside the public interest in preventing further offences. [ 22 , 26 , 31 ]
Kim is suspected of stabbing his mother-in-law, who was in her 50s, at a home in Munjeong-dong on October 11 and forcing his wife into a vehicle before fleeing. The mother-in-law was taken to hospital in cardiac arrest but died. Police arrested Kim at about 12:35 p.m. that day on a wooded hillside in Yangyang, Gangwon. His wife was found with minor abrasions. [ 22 , 26 , 30 ]
Reports said Kim broadly admitted the allegations but claimed the killing was unplanned. Police were examining possible planning and retaliation, including reports that he waited near the scene for around four hours while carrying a weapon. The victim's relatives criticised shortcomings in police protection. Seoul police said they would review about 8,500 relationship-related crime cases through the end of October to check whether victim protection measures had been missed. [ 1 , 22 , 30 ]
Why it matters
The case has raised questions about protection for the wife, with relatives criticising the police response. Seoul police began reviewing about 8,500 relationship-related crime cases to check for gaps in victim protection.
Key facts
- Kim, 26, was referred to prosecutors on October 20 while in custody. [ 34 , 36 , 37 ]
- Police disclosed his identity on October 19. [ 20 , 22 , 26 ]
- He is suspected of killing his mother-in-law and abducting his wife on October 11. [ 22 , 26 , 30 ]
- He was arrested in Yangyang at about 12:35 on the day of the incident. [ 22 , 26 , 30 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the killing was planned or motivated by retaliation. Reports say Kim claimed it was unplanned, while police were investigating possible planning and retaliation.