He went there 18 times after his wife reported domestic violence... Kim Seong-woo indicted for ‘revenge murder’ of his mother-in-law

[Financial News] Kim Seong-woo (26), who killed his mother-in-law and abducted his wife in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, is believed to have committed the crime out of resentment over his wife’s report of domestic violence. The Prosecution Service found evidence that Kim had planned the retaliatory attack, including by using a private investigation agency to track the victim’s family’s movements and purchasing a weapon in advance.
The third criminal division of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecution Office, headed by Chief Prosecutor Moon Ha-gyeong, said on the 6th that Kim had been indicted while in custody on charges including revenge murder and revengeful confinement under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes; special assault; causing injury through obstruction of special official duties; damaging public-use property by a special means; and violating the Stalking Punishment Act. The office also sought an order requiring Kim to wear a location-tracking electronic device.
According to the Eastern District Prosecution Office, Kim is suspected of killing his mother-in-law, A (54), by stabbing her repeatedly with a paring knife in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, at around 5:35 a.m. on the 11th of last month, intending to retaliate for his wife B’s (23) report of domestic violence. He is also accused of forcibly making B get into a car and confining her, then repeatedly punching her in the face while carrying an awl.
He is also accused of ramming a patrol car that was chasing him as he fled, injuring a police officer and damaging the patrol car. Investigators found that he also hit a parked vehicle but neither stopped nor provided his personal information.
A supplemental investigation by the Eastern District Prosecution Office uncovered evidence that Kim had prepared for the crime in advance, including by tracking the victim’s family’s movements starting more than a month before the attack.
Investigators found that on September 2, Kim hired a private investigation agency to locate his wife B’s residence and other whereabouts. Starting on September 16, he monitored the victim family’s movements around their home either through an agency employee or alongside the employee. Investigators also found evidence that he had searched online for personal information about his mother-in-law, A. He had also prepared the weapon in advance. Investigators found that on September 21, Kim bought a paring knife from a shop near the victim family’s home and kept it with him until the attack. The Eastern District Prosecution Office asked police to conduct a supplemental investigation and obtained additional CCTV footage from just before the crime that had not previously been secured. The footage was found to show Kim wielding the knife shortly after approaching A, without any apparent altercation.
Investigators also found evidence that Kim sent his wife B an apology message but acted out of resentment after she told investigators that she had been a victim of domestic violence.
Taking into account the records of his requests to the private investigation agency, evidence of his weapon purchase and the CCTV footage, the Eastern District Prosecution Office concluded that Kim had not killed his mother-in-law on impulse, but had committed the crime to retaliate for his wife’s report of domestic violence.
Investigators found that even before the crime, Kim had repeatedly approached the victim’s family in violation of court-imposed interim measures. From September 16 through October 11, the day of the crime, he went to the area around the family’s home 18 times in total to wait for his wife. He is also accused of approaching the residence on nine occasions.
B had previously reported domestic violence to 112 on August 22. On September 3, Suwon Gwonseon Police Station booked Kim on suspicion of rape resulting in injury, among other charges, under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, etc. of Sexual Crimes. Police questioning of Kim had been scheduled for the 10th of last month but was postponed to the 13th at his request. The killing of his mother-in-law took place in the meantime.
Seoul Songpa Police Station transferred Kim to the Prosecution Service while he was in custody on the 20th of last month. The Eastern District Prosecution Office later bolstered the evidence on his motive through interviews with the defendant and the victim, questioning an employee of the private investigation agency, and analyzing CCTV footage and internet search records.
The sexual violence case involving B, investigated separately by Suwon Gwonseon Police Station, was also referred to the Suwon District Prosecution Office on the 2nd and transferred that day to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecution Office, where it is under review.
The Eastern District Prosecution Office is working to provide psychological treatment costs and relief payments to the victim’s surviving family, while also arranging housing assistance to help the victim and family live securely.
A Seoul Eastern District Prosecution Office official said, “Through close cooperation with the police and active requests for supplemental investigations, we established the substantive truth in this violent crime,” adding, “We will do our utmost to maintain the prosecution so that the defendant receives a severe sentence commensurate with his crime.”
[email protected] Lee Dong-hyeok Reporter