Police: No Suspicion of Homicide in Death of 'Villa King'... Investigation of Accomplices Underway

'Subway Boarding Protest' Jeonjangyeon Investigation Nearing Completion
Han Dong-hoon Residential Intrusion TheTamSa Considering Detention
Cheongdam-dong Drinking Party Allegation Related Person Investigation Continues

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The police have once again emphasized that the death of 'Villa King' Kim, who bought 1,139 villas and officetels and died without returning the jeonse deposits to tenants, was "not a homicide."

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official responded this way to questions about suspicions of homicide regarding Kim at a regular press briefing on the 2nd. Earlier, the Financial Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Police found Kim dead at a hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on October 12 last year. At that time, the police tentatively concluded there was no evidence of homicide.

Kim was accused of embezzling about 17 billion won in jeonse deposits from over 400 tenants by purchasing villas and officetels in the metropolitan area en masse through a no-capital cap investment method. The police began investigating in September last year, but the prosecution rights disappeared when Kim suddenly died. However, the police are continuing investigations by indicting five people, including building owners and sales agents, as accomplices.

The police are focusing their investigation on the possibility that the five indicted individuals are accomplices rather than Kim’s masterminds. They also added that they have obtained account warrants from the court to analyze the flow of funds.

Regarding members of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), who delayed subway operations during the morning commute and occupied roads demanding the guarantee of mobility rights for the disabled, the police stated that investigations are underway for a total of 30 cases involving 29 people. Among them, investigations for 27 people have been completed, and 24 have been referred to the prosecution. A Seoul police official said, "We plan to send them sequentially, and we will complete the investigation for the remaining two as well."

Regarding Kang Jin-gu and Choi Young-min, representatives of the YouTube media outlet 'Citizen Media The TamSa' (hereafter The TamSa), who were arrested on charges of unlawfully entering the residence of Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon but had their arrest warrants dismissed, the police are reviewing whether to reapply for the warrants. A Seoul police official said, "While reviewing the reasons for the warrant dismissal, we will continue the investigation and decide on the direction of custody."

Concerning allegations that President Yoon Seok-yeol and Minister Han had a drinking party late at night in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the police said, "The Seocho Police Station is conducting an investigation," and "We have interrogated related persons, including a cellist, several times." They added that a search and seizure was conducted at the pub, and related materials such as mobile phones have been secured and are being analyzed. A Seoul police official said, "We plan to proceed with investigations of related persons, including those from The TamSa."

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