[Comprehensive] "Serial Murders in Four Days" 31-Year-Old Serial Killer Choi Sin-jong's Identity Revealed

First Suspect Profile Disclosure in Jeonbuk Region
Suspected of Consecutive Murders and Abandonment of Two Missing Women in Jeonju and Busan Last Month

Suspect Choi Se-jong in Serial Murders of Missing Women
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The identity of Choi Sin-jong (31), who is accused of murdering and disposing of women who went missing in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, and Busan, was revealed on the 20th. Choi Sin-jong was formerly a Ssireum wrestler but suddenly quit sports and began engaging in criminal activities. Notably, it was revealed that Choi also sexually assaulted the women during the murders.

The Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency held a personal information disclosure review committee on the same day and decided to disclose Choi Sin-jong’s face, age, and other personal details.

This is the first time that the personal information of a suspect who committed a violent crime in the Jeonbuk region has been disclosed.

The police held the personal information disclosure review committee from 2 p.m., consisting of three internal police members and four external members including lawyers and university professors, and decided to disclose Choi Sin-jong’s face, age, and other personal information.

A Jeonbuk Police Agency official explained the background of the disclosure, saying, "We judged that disclosing the suspect’s personal information aligns with the public interest in terms of the public’s right to know, preventing recurrence of similar crimes, and crime prevention."

He added, "Although the suspect did not use a weapon or mutilate the bodies, he showed a brutal nature by committing murders consecutively within just four days and attempted to destroy evidence by disposing of the bodies. Considering the meticulous nature of the crimes and the irreparable serious harm caused to two victims, we decided to disclose the information."

At around 3 p.m. on the 12th, a woman's body was found in an orchard in Sang-gwan-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk, and the police are verifying her identity. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Choi Sin-jong is accused of strangling A (34, female), an acquaintance of his wife, to death on the 14th of last month and dumping her body near a stream.

Four days later, on the afternoon of the 18th of the same month, he also killed B (29, female) from Busan using the same method and disposed of her body in an orchard.

It was also revealed that he robbed and sexually assaulted the missing women during the murders.

All the victims lost contact after getting into Choi’s car, and their families had filed missing person reports.

Choi Sin-jong is known to have practiced Ssireum since elementary school.

In 2002, he participated in national competitions such as the National Youth Sports Festival and won all weight classes: lightweight (40kg), middleweight (45kg), and heavyweight (50kg). He also won in team events.

Choi continued as a Ssireum wrestler after entering middle school. He established himself as a player by winning the heavyweight class in provincial Ssireum competitions but suddenly quit his athletic career.

Busan Missing Woman's Body Found Site
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

Later, in 2012, when his girlfriend demanded a breakup, Choi threatened and raped her with a weapon he had prepared in advance. He was tried and sentenced to three years in prison with a five-year probation for group and weapon threats and special rape charges.

In 2015, he was also prosecuted for stealing valuables from a mart in Gimje (nighttime building intrusion theft) and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Choi Sin-jong, who was arrested on charges of murdering two women who went missing in Jeonju and Busan, is known to have recently operated a delivery agency in Jeonju.

While running the delivery agency, he reportedly accumulated gambling debts amounting to tens of millions of won, causing financial difficulties.

The police believe Choi may have committed additional crimes and are securing testimonies and evidence, including conducting a thorough investigation into the safety of women reported missing.

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