'Seoul Jung-gu Officetel Murder' 30s Male Arrested in Daegu (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A man in his 30s who stabbed and killed a woman in her 30s, who was under police protection due to dating violence, has been arrested by the police.

According to the Jungbu Police Station in Seoul on the 20th, the police announced that they apprehended the suspect around 12:40 PM at a lodging facility in Daegu Metropolitan City. The police plan to transfer the suspect to the Jungbu Police Station in Seoul.

At around 11:30 AM the previous day, a report was received that a woman in her 30s, Ms. A, was found collapsed with blood on her head at an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Ms. A had wounds on her head that appeared to be caused by a sharp weapon. When firefighters arrived, she was conscious but was undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and was being transported to a nearby hospital, where she ultimately passed away.

Ms. A was a subject under protection due to dating violence. She made two emergency calls to the police using a smartwatch provided to her. However, due to mechanical defects and other issues, the location signals from the calls were directed to places different from Ms. A’s residence. Ms. A made the second emergency call at 11:33 AM, and the police dispatched units to both the Myeongdong area, indicated by the smartwatch location, and the victim’s residence. They arrived at the victim’s residence eight minutes later, at 11:41 AM. When the police found Ms. A, she was already collapsed and bleeding.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated regarding the incorrect location data from the smartwatch in this case, "This occurred during the process of checking the smartwatch’s location using the existing 112 system, which confirms location based on cell towers." They added, "We will re-examine the problems and improvement measures of the protection response system, including smartwatches, in consultation with the National Police Agency, and especially inspect the 'Protection Location Confirmation System' currently in pilot operation."

Earlier, on the 7th, Ms. A requested separation measures from the police, stating that her ex-boyfriend threatened to kill her. The police took protective measures, including providing her with a smartwatch. Two days later, the court issued provisional orders prohibiting the ex-boyfriend from approaching within 100 meters and from accessing her via information and communication means. The police also notified the ex-boyfriend of these measures and checked on Ms. A’s safety seven times until the day before the incident. Ms. A had been living at an acquaintance’s house until the day before and was at the officetel where she lived alone when the incident occurred.

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