'Three Women Murder' Kim Taehyun Sent to Trial... "Meticulously Planned the Crime" (Summary)

Prosecutors Apply Five Charges Including Murder, Kim Taehyun Arrested and Indicted

Victim's Work Schedule Confirmed and Leave Applied... Meticulous Planned Crime
Decided to Commit Crime After Contact Blocked Following Online Game Meeting
Psychological Analysis Reveals Antisocial Traits with 'Extreme Anger Release'
Stalking Crime Punishment Law Not Applicable Due to Pre-Law Enforcement Timing

Suspect Kim Taehyun, accused of breaking into an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, and killing a mother and her two daughters, is revealing his face on the 9th at Dobong Police Station in Seoul before being sent to the prosecution. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Kim Taehyun (25), who is accused of murdering three women in a mother-daughter trio at an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, has been indicted while in custody.

The Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lim Jong-pil) announced on the 27th that Kim was indicted in custody on charges including murder, theft, special trespassing, violation of the Information and Communications Network Act (information network intrusion, etc.), and violation of the Minor Offenses Act.

Kim is accused of visiting an apartment in Junggye-dong, Nowon-gu on the 23rd of last month and sequentially murdering the three women in the mother-daughter trio. At around 5:40 p.m. that day, he went to the home of victim A, whom he met through an online game, pretending to deliver a product to get the door opened. Only A’s younger sibling was at home at the time.

When the sibling opened the door, Kim threatened them with a weapon he had prepared in advance, entered the house, and killed the sibling. At around 10:09 p.m., he also murdered the mother who had returned home. Then, at around 11:30 p.m., he killed A, who was the last to return home. It was confirmed that Kim identified A’s home address by viewing delivery-related information exposed in text messages previously sent by A.

After the crime, Kim checked conversations between A and mutual acquaintances on A’s mobile phone and blocked them. Before the crime, he threatened A to learn the phone’s unlock pattern and turned on the computer at the house to access A’s SNS, deleting conversations and friend lists related to himself.

The police received a report on the 25th of the same month from an acquaintance of the victims stating, "I cannot contact my friend," and upon arriving at the scene, found the three deceased women and Kim, who had attempted self-harm. Kim was transported to a nearby hospital, underwent surgery, and was hospitalized. After recovering to a level where communication was possible, he was arrested on the 2nd.

◆Meticulously planned crime in advance... After contact was blocked, sent messages like "I told you not to do something you would regret"

It was revealed that Kim had thoroughly planned the crime in advance, preparing tools and checking the victim’s work schedule starting four days before the crime. He accessed the game using an account different from his usual one to approach A and track A’s movements. After stealing a weapon from a nearby supermarket, he meticulously planned the crime by preparing a box to pretend to deliver a product and clothes to change into after the crime. He even applied for leave from work after the crime and deleted his phone’s conversation history and contacts in advance. He also searched the internet for information related to fatal injury areas before the crime.

Kim and A met through an online game in November last year and built a friendship by playing games with acquaintances they met through related chat rooms. Kim met A in person twice in January this year. On the 23rd of the same month, four people, including another person met through the game, had a drinking party. At this gathering, Kim suddenly exhibited nervous and erratic behavior, prompting A and others to block and avoid contact with Kim.

The next day, Kim waited in front of A’s house and met A but was told not to come again. However, even after A refused to meet, Kim continued to try to contact A by sending messages from another person’s phone or calling from a public phone. Kim also sent threatening messages through a chat app that A had not yet blocked, including insults and phrases like “I told you not to do something you would regret, it’s unfortunate. Live well.”

As this situation repeated, A eventually changed their phone number. When Kim could no longer contact A, he harbored resentment and decided to kill A.

◆Prosecutors: "Has antisocial tendencies but is not a psychopath... No signs of mental disorder"

After receiving the case from the police on the 9th of this month, the prosecution conducted supplementary investigations of related parties, integrated psychological analysis, expert investigative advisory consultations, and digital forensics. Considering Kim’s method of crime, behavior before and after the crime, and attitude during statements, the prosecution concluded there were no signs to suspect mental disorder.

According to the psychological analysis and advisory results, Kim had low self-esteem, high vulnerability to rejection, excessive obsession, victim mentality, and a desire for revenge. He also had antisocial tendencies, shifting responsibility to the victim and attempting to resolve his anger through extreme methods. However, as with the police’s psychopathy diagnostic evaluation (PCL-R), it was concluded that he does not qualify as a “psychopath.” Earlier, the police analyzed Kim’s circumstances before and after the crime and his criminal psychology, stating, “Although some traits such as antisocial tendencies appeared, it does not reach the level to diagnose psychopathy.” Since the 8th, the police deployed four profilers to interview Kim and analyzed his psychopathic tendencies based on the materials, reaching this judgment.

The prosecution regarded Kim’s actions as “stalking crimes” under the Stalking Crime Punishment Act but applied only the Minor Offenses Act violation charge because the law has not yet been enforced. This law will come into effect on October 21.

A prosecution official explained, “From the initial stage, we established a close cooperation system between Nowon Police Station and the Violent Crime Task Force to conduct the investigation,” adding, “We immediately initiated victim support procedures for the bereaved families upon transfer, promptly provided funeral expenses and family relief funds, and made every effort to support the victims.”

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