Incheon Noraejujeom Murderer Heo Min-woo, When Asked Why He Confessed... "It Was Too Hard"

Charged with Murder, Corpse Mutilation and Abandonment... Sent to Prosecution in Custody

After killing a customer and disposing of the mutilated body, karaoke bar owner Heo Min-woo was released from the detention center at Michuhol Police Station in Incheon on the morning of the 21st and transferred to the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Heo Min-woo (34), the owner of a karaoke bar who killed a customer after a dispute over the price of alcohol and then mutilated and abandoned the body, has been handed over to the prosecution while in custody.

On the 21st, the Jungbu Police Station in Incheon sent Heo to the prosecution on charges of murder, corpse mutilation and abandonment, and violation of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

On the morning of the same day, as Heo was leaving the Michuhol Police Station detention center, he briefly said "I'm sorry" in response to reporters' question, "Do you have any remorse for the bereaved families?" and when asked, "Why did you confess after denying the crime?" he replied, "It was mentally very difficult."

When asked by reporters, "You said during the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) that you were going somewhere. Where were you trying to go?" he said, "With a heavy heart, I went about four times to the place where I abandoned the body, poured drinks twice, and said I was sorry."

He also complied with reporters' request to remove his mask and bowed his head, saying, "I am truly sorry. I will never fight again. I am sorry."

Heo is suspected of killing a man in his 40s, Mr. A, at the karaoke bar he operated in Sinpo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon on the 22nd of last month, mutilating the body, and abandoning it on the mid-slope of Cheolmasan Mountain in Bupyeong-gu.

He hid Mr. A's body in an empty room inside the karaoke bar for two days, then loaded it into a vehicle and traveled around places including Muui Island in Incheon and Ganghwa Island, and was investigated to have abandoned it in the bushes on the mid-slope of Cheolmasan Mountain in Bupyeong-gu at the end of the same month.

Heo, who denied the charges immediately after being arrested by the police, confessed, saying, "Mr. A poked me repeatedly and reported to 112 saying 'You deserve to be punished' for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act. I got angry and killed him by hitting him several times with my fists and feet."

After Heo was detained, the police held a personal information disclosure review committee and released his name, age, and photo.

The committee stated, "This case meets the criteria for disclosure of personal information due to the cruelty and seriousness of the crime," and added, "The public interest in guaranteeing the right to know of the people outweighs the suspect's human rights infringement caused by the disclosure of personal information."

Mr. A disappeared after visiting the karaoke bar with acquaintance Mr. C around 7:30 p.m. on the 21st of last month. Mr. A's father reported his son missing to the police on the 26th of last month, five days later, saying, "My son who went out has not returned home."

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