Police Say No Conversation Like "We Need Evidence to Help" When Kim Byung-chan Reported Stalking

Kim Byung-chan (35), whose identity was disclosed after killing a woman in her 30s who was under personal protection. Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The family of a woman in her 30s, Ms. A, who was receiving personal protection after being stalked by Kim Byung-chan (35) and was murdered, stated that the police said, "We cannot help without evidence." However, the police clarified that such a conversation did not occur according to the 112 emergency call records.

On the 25th, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency 112 Situation Room, regarding the victim's family's petition on the Blue House website, they confirmed the 112 call records from the 9th and stated, "There was no conversation such as 'We cannot help without evidence' or 'You need to have photos or videos together to receive help.'"

They added, "Instead, the 112 Situation Room officer asked, 'We will send a police officer. Where should we send them?' When the response was, 'I am currently away from the scene in a distant place and do not know where the suspect is,' the officer replied, '(Given the current situation) there is nothing we can do, but if you need police assistance in the evening or when you go to work tomorrow, please contact us again, and we will help.' Afterwards, on the day of the report, the victim requested help, and the police accompanied her to her home," they explained.

The day before, a petitioner B, who identified himself as the younger brother of Ms. A (32), the recent victim of the officetel stalking murder case, posted a petition titled "Appealing the injustice of the deceased and bereaved family killed by a planned and cruel stalking murderer" on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The petitioner wrote, "My sister struggled to survive but died amid a fragile victim protection system and police indifference." According to the petitioner, the victim had repeatedly sought help from the police before her death.

According to the petitioner, the victim Ms. A was threatened by Kim Byung-chan on the 7th and sought police assistance. Ms. A wrote a statement at the police station and stayed at a temporary shelter until the next day. From the 9th to the 14th, she stayed at a friend's house, but Kim Byung-chan visited her workplace after she disappeared from the officetel. The victim reported to the police again but received no help.

B also released a recording of the 112 call. According to the recording, on the 9th, Ms. A called 112 and told the police, "I am at a temporary shelter, but the perpetrator came looking for me." The 112 officer asked, "Are you with the perpetrator?" and the victim replied, "Not now." When the police asked again, "Do you know where he went?" the victim said, "No, I don't know." Then the police responded, "We cannot help without evidence," adding, "You need to have photos or videos together to receive help." B criticized the police's response, saying, "Isn't this really outrageous? If the victim is with the person threatening her, could she take a video? Should she even try to take a selfie?"

On the morning of the 19th, around 11:30 a.m., a woman in her 30s, Ms. A, was found stabbed in the head with a weapon at an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul. When firefighters arrived, she was conscious but died while being transported to a nearby hospital after receiving CPR. Ms. A was a personal protection target due to dating violence. She made two emergency calls to the police using a provided smartwatch. However, criticisms have arisen that the police response was delayed due to systemic limitations, such as incorrect reporting of the location.

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