Choi Gwan-ho, Chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, "The 'Children's Sports Center Murder Case' May Have Been Difficult to Recognize as a Crime at the Scene"

Choi Kwan-ho, Commissioner of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] Choi Gwan-ho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated that regarding the murder case that occurred at a children's sports center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, it may have been "difficult to recognize it as a murder crime" at the time of dispatch due to the suspect's statements and the situation at the scene.

At a press conference held on the 3rd at the Seoul Police Agency in Naejadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Chief Choi said, "We are currently accurately verifying the facts to check for any deficiencies" and added, "(The man) was initially urgently arrested on charges of assault resulting in death, and based on CCTV footage and preliminary autopsy opinions, the charge was changed to murder as of the 1st, and a warrant for arrest was requested. The warrant was issued after a substantive hearing on the 2nd."

The perpetrator, a man in his 40s identified as A, reported at around 2 a.m. on the 31st of last month that "a man was hitting my sister" at a sports center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. However, after the police arrived, A changed his statement, saying, "I never made such a report," and "A man broke in and fought but then ran away."

The police found the victim, a staff member in her 20s named B, lying on the scene and checked her pulse by placing a hand on her chest but judged that her life was not in danger. It was also reported that no bloodstains or other evidence of a crime were found. A explained, "She was drunk and sleeping." Regarding the CCTV, he said, "I don't want to show it. I will go to the police station myself to file a complaint." The police understood from these statements and withdrew from the scene. About seven hours later, at 9:05 a.m., A reported, "I woke up and the staff member was unconscious," and the police urgently arrested him.

The police applied murder charges to A and requested an arrest warrant, which the court issued on the same day, citing concerns about flight risk. Initially, the police charged A with assault resulting in death, but after the National Forensic Service issued a preliminary opinion stating that "B's anal area was pierced by a rod, causing organ damage leading to death," they changed the charge, considering intent.

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