Serial Killer Kang Yoon-sung Sent to Prosecution, Committed Crimes for Money... Pre-Meditated Plan Confirmed

First Crime After Failed Attempt to Borrow Money
Second Victim Killed for Demanding Repayment
Purchased Electronic Ankle Bracelet Cutter and Weapon in Advance
"Reports of Killing Due to Refusal of Sexual Relations Are Incorrect"
Police Add Charges Including Robbery and Murder

Kang Yoon-sung (56), who is accused of murdering two women before and after damaging an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet), is being transferred from Songpa Police Station in Seoul to the prosecution on the 7th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Kang Yoon-seong (56), who was arrested for damaging an electronic monitoring device (electronic anklet) and murdering two women, was handed over to the prosecution on the 7th. According to the police investigation, Kang is believed to have killed the women due to financial issues and had planned the crimes in advance.

Seoul Songpa Police Station transferred Kang, who is charged with robbery-murder, murder, attempted murder, fraud, violation of the Specialized Credit Finance Business Act, and violation of the Act on Electronic Monitoring Devices, to the prosecution on the morning of the same day.

According to the police, on the 26th of last month at around 6:20 p.m., Kang took the first victim, a woman in her 40s named A, to his home in Geoyeo-dong, Songpa-gu, threatened her with a weapon, strangled her to death, and stole her credit card. Then, at around 5:30 p.m. the next day, he damaged the electronic anklet using a cutter near Mongchontoseong Station in Songpa-gu.

After fleeing, Kang committed a second crime. At around 3:30 a.m. on the 29th, he strangled and killed the second victim, a woman in her 50s named B, inside her car parked in the Jamsil Hangang Park parking lot. The police confirmed the crime through on-site investigation after Kang surrendered at around 8 a.m. on the 29th, stating he had killed someone, and then arrested him urgently. The victims were acquaintances of Kang after his release from prison, and their bodies were found in Kang’s home and the victim’s car respectively. The autopsy suggested death by strangulation.

Police investigation revealed that Kang committed the crimes due to financial reasons such as debt. He testified that he wanted to borrow money from A, whom he knew, but was refused, and when B threatened to report him to the police if he did not repay the money she lent him, he committed the crimes.

Kang also planned the crimes in advance. Before committing the first murder, on the 25th, he rented a car from an acquaintance he met while working in cosmetics door-to-door sales and purchased a cutter and a weapon on the 26th. However, there were no accomplices or helpers related to this crime, and no additional reports have been made since Kang’s personal information was disclosed. There is also no indication of sexual assault crimes.

The police explained why they failed to find the cutter and weapon inside the rental car Kang abandoned. A police official told reporters, "It was regrettable, but we were not aware that a violent crime had occurred and were focusing on finding the person," adding, "We were aware of two possibilities: the suspect who damaged the electronic anklet and a suspected suicide."

Regarding criticism that cooperation with the Ministry of Justice was not smooth after the electronic anklet was damaged and that the police did not check Kang’s criminal record, the police said, "In general, the police check the suspects and accused in cases they handle," but "it is rare for the police to check criminal records when the case is with the Ministry of Justice." They added, "Criminal record checks are strictly regulated by law, and improper checks can lead to punishment, so there is a burden."

During the transfer from the Songpa detention center to the prosecution on the same day, Kang stood at the photo line and said, "I sincerely apologize to the victims, their neighbors, and families." When asked by reporters if he committed the crimes because of money and which parts of the media reports were incorrect, he said, "That’s right," and "The report that I strangled the victim to death because she refused sexual relations is wrong." He remained silent when asked why he decided to surrender and when he planned the crimes. Wearing a mask, Kang kept his head down, and during the transfer, a man rushed at Kang and shouted insults.

On the 31st, Kang showed violent behavior when appearing in court for the pre-arrest detention hearing. When reporters asked about his motive, he kicked a broadcast microphone, saying, "Report properly." After the hearing, he said, "I regret not killing more," and "I did it because society is messed up."

Initially, Kang was arrested on the 31st for murder and damaging the electronic anklet, but the police confirmed through CCTV, call records, and analysis of credit card and bank transactions that Kang planned to kill a third woman and purchased four mobile phones worth about 5.96 million won using A’s credit card, which he then resold. Related charges were added accordingly.

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