Prosecutors Investigate Trio in 'Gangnam Abduction and Murder' Case... Begin Supplementary Investigation

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's dedicated investigation team (led by Kim Soo-min, Chief of Criminal Division 3), which received custody of Lee Kyung-woo (36), Hwang Dae-han (36), and Yeon Ji-ho (30) on the 9th?suspected perpetrators of the 'Gangnam kidnapping and murder case'?has officially begun supplementary investigations. Immediately upon receiving custody of the three suspects, they arranged for a meeting with a human rights officer as per regulations, followed promptly by suspect interrogations.

'Gangnam kidnapping and murder' trio, Lee Kyung-woo, Hwang Dae-han, Yeon Ji-ho [Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution is expected to conduct supplementary investigations for up to 20 days starting from this day before indicting them. Under our Criminal Procedure Act, prosecutors may investigate detained suspects for up to 20 days through one extension.

The prosecution is focusing its investigative efforts on the motive behind the kidnapping and murder, based on materials transferred by the police and civil and criminal cases involving persons related to the incident. The police, who initially investigated the case, identified that the motive stemmed from financial conflicts related to investments in the cryptocurrency 'P Coin' involving the wealthy couple Yoo and Hwang, who are charged with instigating robbery and murder, the victim couple, and Lee Kyung-woo.

The prosecution plans to comprehensively investigate the crime process involving the trio’s kidnapping, murder, and disposal of the body, as well as the circumstances of murder instigation by the Yoo and Hwang couple, who will be transferred later, to confirm the connection between cryptocurrency investment losses and the crime. The flow of money that the three suspects received or were to receive as payment for the kidnapping and murder must also be clarified by the prosecution.

Additionally, the prosecution has conducted preliminary investigations, including summoning individuals related to a joint extortion case transferred from the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office Seongnam Branch on the 3rd.

Investigations revealed that Lee Kyung-woo and the victims suspected the responsibility for the P Coin crash lay with the Yoo couple, who were in charge of promotion and marketing. In March 2021, they reportedly found the couple staying at a hotel in Seoul, confined and threatened them, and seized cryptocurrency. As a result, Lee Kyung-woo was transferred to the Seongnam Branch, while the victim was excluded from transfer due to minimal involvement.

In October of the same year, the Yoo couple filed a civil lawsuit demanding the return of 100 million won in investment funds from the victim, leading to civil and criminal disputes. The police believe that Lee Kyung-woo, who participated in the extortion with the victim, reconciled with the Yoo couple during this process and formed an alliance.

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