[Exclusive] Kim, accused of killing his mother-in-law and abducting his wife, ran up gambling debts in the 100-million-won range... also worked at adult entertainment venues

[Financial News] An acquaintance said that Kim, a man in his 20s accused of killing his wife’s mother while divorce proceedings were underway and abducting his wife, had previously worked at a host bar, where he took up illegal gambling, and at one point had debts of up to 100 million won. Kim reportedly began working in the adult entertainment industry after experiencing family discord during his parents’ divorce, and posted a series of unusual social media posts about a week before the alleged crime.
According to an acquaintance, identified as A, who had known Kim for 3–4 years, Kim previously worked at a host bar and took up illegal gambling, including baccarat and sports betting. A said they met Kim through a mutual acquaintance, became close, with Kim as a younger friend, and stayed in touch for 3–4 years.
Kim reportedly started gambling at the urging of an acquaintance he met at an adult entertainment venue. In a phone interview with Financial News, A said, “Kim told me he was first introduced to illegal gambling through an older acquaintance he met at a host bar,” adding, “I heard he started spending the money he earned on gambling after hearing people around him say you could make a lot of money that way.”
He initially gambled with money he earned at adult entertainment venues, but reportedly fell into debt as his losses mounted. A said, “Kim told me his debts from gambling and other things at the time were around 80 million to 100 million won,” adding, “I heard he later paid off a substantial portion.”
Kim reportedly continued working in the adult entertainment industry around Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, after leaving the host bar. According to A, Kim made a living working at a venue as what is known as an “MD,” attracting and managing customers. He reportedly met his wife, with whom he is now in divorce proceedings, and began dating her during this period.

There was also testimony that Kim experienced family discord during his parents’ divorce before he began working in the adult entertainment industry.
According to A, Kim had told people that he had once witnessed his father assaulting his mother. A also claimed to have personally seen threatening text messages that Kim’s father had sent to his mother.
A said, “Kim showed me text messages his father had sent his mother. They said things to the effect of, ‘If I see you, I’ll kill you’ and ‘I’ll only be at peace if you die.’ I heard Kim kept records related to this and that they were submitted in his parents’ divorce proceedings.”
Kim reportedly began working at adult entertainment venues around this time. A said that after his mother left home amid his parents’ conflict, Kim began working to help cover living expenses when the family fell into financial difficulty.
A said Kim’s social media activity also took an unusual turn about a week before the crime. A, who had not met Kim in person for the past year or two, had kept in occasional contact with him through social media.
According to A, between late September and early October, Kim shared a series of sad posts on his Instagram account. When A saw them and asked whether Kim had divorced his wife, Kim reportedly replied to the effect that “we haven’t divorced” and “we’re doing well.”
A said, “You kept posting sad things, unlike usual, so I asked if something was wrong. I wanted to meet in person and talk, but our schedules didn’t line up, so we couldn’t meet.” That was the last time the two were in contact.
Kim was later arrested on suspicion of killing his wife’s mother while he was in the middle of divorce proceedings, and dragging his wife to a wooded hillside. Police are investigating the exact motive and circumstances of the alleged crime, including Kim’s movements and financial situation beforehand. A committee reviewing the disclosure of Kim’s personal information is scheduled to meet early next week.
[email protected] Lee Dong-hyeok Reporter