Amid controversy over the investigation into the suspect in his mother-in-law’s killing, police say efforts to secure evidence are ongoing

[Financial News] Police said they had continued investigating to secure evidence amid controversy over their investigation into a past domestic violence case involving Mr. Kim, a man in his 20s suspected of killing his mother-in-law and fleeing with his wife in a car while divorce proceedings were underway. They said they had made further attempts to secure evidence even after three attempts to execute search-and-seizure warrants failed, and had maintained safety measures for the victim even after the interim measures expired.
Police said on the 13th that Suwon Gwonseon Police Station in Gyeonggi Province had taken over Mr. Kim’s domestic violence case from Seoul Songpa Police Station on August 27 and had been investigating it since.
Police said they made further attempts to secure evidence even after three attempts to execute search-and-seizure warrants for key evidence failed. They explained that a cautious approach was necessary because it would be difficult to secure evidence simply by searching the suspect’s residence or vehicle.
A police official said, “We had to proceed cautiously because there were concerns that evidence could be destroyed,” adding, “We made every effort to secure key evidence without it being destroyed.”
Police also looked into signs of additional crimes beyond the existing domestic violence report, but declined to disclose the specific number and methods of search-and-seizure attempts or whether evidence had been secured, citing the ongoing investigation.
Police also explained why it took six days to reapply after the interim measures expired. The existing interim measures expired on the 30th of last month, and police, following internal discussions on the 5th of this month, reapplied on the 6th on their own authority.
Police said they considered whether to reapply because no additional signs of risk, such as the suspect visiting or contacting the victim, were identified during the interim-measure period. They explained that they later concluded a new application was needed as the investigation continued for an extended period.
A police official said, “We considered whether to reapply because no new risk factors were identified during the interim-measure period,” adding, “As the investigation continued for an extended period, we decided it would be better to apply for the interim measures again.”
Police stressed, however, that victim-safety measures carried out on their own authority remained in place without interruption, separately from the interim measures that require a court decision.
Mr. Kim is suspected of killing his mother-in-law, who was in her 50s, with a weapon in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 11th, then fleeing to the Gangwon region by car with his wife, who was in her 20s.
The Seoul Eastern District Court held a pre-arrest suspect hearing (warrant review) starting at 2:30 p.m. that day for Mr. Kim, who is suspected of murdering a lineal ascendant and committing special confinement. Mr. Kim did not answer reporters’ questions about his motive or whether the crime had been planned as he appeared at court.
[email protected] Lee Dong-hyeok Reporter