BJ's Fortune Lost in 'Jeju Murder Case'... Meticulously Planned Crime [Han Seung-gon's Incident Notebook]

Claiming accidental crime due to financial hardship... Planned crime including selecting targets
Female BJ borrowed tens of millions to buy gifts and committed the crime
"My daughter who walked to save bus fare" Victim's father petitions Cheong
Expert: "Typical planned crime, killed with a weapon when resisted"

A man in his 20s, Kang, who murdered a woman returning home after finishing work at a convenience store to cover living expenses in Jeju, was arrested on the 3rd. The photo is a CCTV capture taken on the day of the incident, last month on the 30th, showing Kang wearing a black mask getting out of his own pickup truck. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The brutal murder of a woman returning home after working at a convenience store in Jeju is emerging not as a simple impulsive crime due to financial hardship, but as a premeditated crime. The prime suspect, Kang Mo (29), who was apprehended by the police, had emphasized that his crime was impulsive, claiming, "I committed the crime out of desperation due to financial difficulties."

However, the crime process reveals that Kang meticulously prepared for the crime, including scouting for a target, contrary to his statement. Notably, he even attempted a perfect crime by returning to the crime scene to find and move the body.

The suspect, who committed this heinous crime, reportedly squandered all his money supporting internet broadcast BJs, and it is criticized that after spending money on entertainment expenses and being unable to support BJs any longer, he meticulously planned and murdered the victim. The victim’s father urged severe punishment, saying his daughter was frugal even with bus fare.

◆ Scouting the target... Following the victim and brutally murdering her

On the 10th, the Jeju Western Police Station sent Kang, who is charged with robbery-murder, attempted concealment of a corpse, theft, and fraud, to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment and detention.

According to the police, Kang identified the victim (female, 39) around 6:50 p.m. on the 30th of last month near a field close to the Min-sok Oil Market in Dodoo 1-dong, Jeju City, followed her, stabbed her with a weapon, murdered her, and fled after stealing 10,000 won in cash and a credit card.

It was later confirmed that Kang used the stolen credit card to purchase food and beverages worth 100,000 won in two transactions at a convenience store and a mart.

At the time of the crime, the victim was returning home after finishing work at a nearby convenience store. Kang claimed he committed the crime due to financial hardship and insisted that his crime was unrelated to planned violent crime.

On the afternoon of the 10th, Mr. A, who was arrested by the police on suspicion of murdering a woman in her 30s in a field near Jeju-si Folk Five-Day Market on the 30th of last month, is being transferred from Jeju Dongbu Police Station to Jeju District Prosecutors' Office. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "A heinous crime of premeditated disregard for human life"

However, contrary to Kang’s statements, it has been revealed that he prepared for the crime in a certain way. Having failed to pay rent for several months, Kang left his residence on the 28th of last month and decided to commit the crime.

He lived in his own cargo truck for three days, wandering around the Oil Market area and nearby parks, scouting for a target.

Eventually, Kang committed the crime on the 30th, and about five hours later, at 12:17 a.m. on the 31st, he returned to the crime scene to move the body but failed, dreaming of a perfect crime. This cannot be seen as a simple crime caused by financial hardship.

Police investigations revealed that Kang had spent all his money supporting several female internet broadcast BJs from December last year until recently.

Kang reportedly paid female BJs cyber money ranging from at least 100,000 won to as much as 2 million won. He even took out a loan of 55 million won, including for vehicle loans, living expenses, and cyber money costs.

In police questioning, Kang stated, "I worked in delivery from April to July but quit because the money was less than expected. I committed the crime due to financial hardship."

The police regard Kang’s crime as a planned crime. A police official said, "The suspect was completely immersed in a psychological state that only targeted money without any respect for human life. It is a heinous crime of premeditated disregard for human life."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture

◆ "Please punish severely to prevent such tragedies from happening again"

Earlier, the victim’s father posted a petition titled "I am the father of the victim of the murder of a woman in her 30s near the Jeju Min-sok Oil Market" on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 7th.

The victim’s father said, "My daughter worked part-time for five hours every day at a small convenience store and walked home, which was an hour and 30 minutes away on foot after work," adding, "After the incident, I learned that contrary to her saying she walked for exercise, she walked every day to save transportation costs and save money."

He continued, "The suspect owns a 1-ton cargo truck and also worked in delivery, but when work was a bit scarce, he followed a woman who was walking home to save transportation costs and committed a terrible act," asserting, "Since he murdered with a weapon he had, it is clear this was a planned murder."

He also emphasized, "Even if it wasn’t my daughter, anyone passing through there could have become a victim. Please punish severely to prevent such tragedies from happening again."

As of 6 a.m. on the 13th, the petition had 36,789 supporters. Another petition titled "Demanding the disclosure of personal information and strict investigation of the Jeju man in his 20s who followed and murdered a woman returning home," posted on the 3rd, currently has 130,000 supporters.

Experts also analyzed that Kang’s crime process indicates a meticulously planned crime rather than a simple impulsive crime.

Oh Yoon-sung, a professor of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, pointed out, "The concept of an impulsive crime involves a very short time gap between deciding to commit the crime and the crime itself. However, Kang used his cargo truck to scout the crime location and targeted the victim."

He added, "He identified the target and followed the woman. Considering this crime process, it can be seen as a planned crime. Also, when the victim resisted, he killed her with the weapon he had. This is a typical planned crime."

Regarding Kang taking the victim’s 10,000 won in cash, he explained, "Usually, criminals are interested in money. The amount is not important. Once they commit a crime, they tend to steal the victim’s belongings. This can be understood from that perspective."

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