‘Seongbuk Teen Murder’ Suspect’s Former Common-Law Spouse Also Faces Possible Detention... Accused of Ordering Victim to Engage in Prostitution and Commit Theft

[Financial News] A 20-something woman who was formerly in a common-law relationship with a man in his 50s accused of murdering a 15-year-old girl has been named in an arrest warrant request.
According to legal sources on the 13th, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office requested an arrest warrant that day for Kim, 26, who is accused of violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sex Offenses, instigating theft, receiving stolen goods, fraud and other offenses.
The pre-warrant interview with the suspect was held at around 2 p.m. that day. Most of Kim’s alleged offenses center on crimes involving the deceased A, a 15-year-old girl.
Kim was identified as the former common-law spouse of Jin, 59, who is suspected of murdering A. She had been under police investigation on suspicion of directing A to engage in prostitution and commit various crimes, including theft. She was also reportedly the person who booked the home-sharing accommodation where A was murdered.
Earlier, Seoul Nowon Police Station applied for an arrest warrant for Kim in July, but prosecutors rejected it at the time. After a supplementary investigation, police applied for an arrest warrant for Kim again on the 8th. The prosecutors’ office had planned to interview Kim before requesting an arrest warrant on the 11th, but reportedly had to reschedule after the case was reassigned.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Northern District Court (Presiding Judge Kang Young-hoon, in charge of warrants) issued an arrest warrant for Jin that day, citing concerns that he might destroy evidence or flee. Jin did not appear for the pre-detention suspect examination (the substantive warrant review hearing), so the court decided whether to detain him by reviewing documents, including the submitted investigation records, without holding a separate hearing.
A was found to have been the victim of a statutory rape of a minor committed in January by Jin’s son, who is in his 20s. After A’s parents filed a complaint at the time, police investigated the case and referred Jin’s son to prosecutors without detention in March. Separately, Jin’s son was detained on other charges, including theft, and is currently being held at Seoul Southern Detention Center.
[email protected] Seo Ji-yun Reporter