'50s Businessman Murder' International PJ Gang Vice Boss Sent to Prosecution

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Jo Gyu-seok (60), the deputy leader of the violent organization Gukje PJ-pa, who is accused of leading the murder case of a businessman in his 50s, has been handed over to the prosecution.

The Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit announced on the 4th that Jo was sent to the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office on charges of robbery resulting in death, confinement, and corpse abandonment.

Jo is suspected of kidnapping and murdering businessman A (56), with whom he had a financial dispute, along with accomplices in Gwangju on May 19 last year, and then abandoning the body in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. After the crime, Jo was captured by the police in Asan, Chungnam, on the 25th of last month following nine months of evasion and was detained.

Accomplices Hong (61) and Kim (65), who committed the crime together, were indicted and detained on charges of robbery murder and corpse abandonment, and were sentenced to five years and twelve years in prison respectively by the Uijeongbu District Court in December last year. Jo’s younger brother (58) was also sentenced to two years and six months in prison by the Gwangju District Court.

Jo is known to have claimed that he committed assault and confinement due to financial issues related to stock investment and personal emotions but had no intention to kill. The police investigated Jo for murder charges but, judging that there was insufficient evidence to prove intent to kill, applied the charge of robbery resulting in death.

In this case, Jo moved between one-room apartments, officetels, and hotels in Asan, Gwangju, and Daejeon, changing his residence every three days to three months. Although using multiple mobile phones, he maintained minimal communication. Jo’s son and his son’s acquaintance helped him by providing driving, meals, funds, and places to hide, and the police are also investigating them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.