Followers of "Gangbuk Motel Killer" Surge 50-Fold... "Pretty, So Innocent?" Sparks Perpetrator-Glorification Controversy

A flood of comments praising her looks and calling for leniency
Warnings over “distorting the crime” and secondary victimization
Similar cases emerging recently in Japan
“Hybristophilia” back in the spotlight

As the personal details of Kim (22), the suspect in the "Gangbuk motel drug death case," spread online, an unexpected controversy over "glorifying the perpetrator" has erupted. After a social media (SNS) account believed to belong to Kim was shared, comments praising her appearance or defending her crime poured in, and the number of followers even surged by a factor of 50. As a result, concerns are mounting that the essence of the case is being obscured and that this could lead to secondary harm against the victim and the bereaved family.

Recently in Japan, the suspect in the Tokyo Ikebukuro prostitution case, arrested in October last year, has been drawing attention for being called "the most beautiful criminal". QAB NEWS

Fiftyfold increase in followers in ten days... Shocking comment: "Maybe only 1 out of 100 men would refuse?"

On February 24, an Instagram account believed to be Kim's has been spreading rapidly across online communities. The number of followers for the account increased from around 200 about ten days ago to over 10,000 as of this evening, an approximately fiftyfold jump.

Yonhap News Agency

One netizen, referring to Kim's SNS, wrote, "She has a pretty face, dresses well, has many interests, and just looks like an ordinary woman of that age who wants to date." The netizen continued, "Among all those photos, there is not a single one taken with someone else. There are hundreds of posts in her feed, and every single one is of her alone," adding, "If she had even one or two close friends she could really open up to, I don't think she would have become such a devil," posting a comment that appeared to gloss over and sympathize with Kim's wrongdoing.

In addition, reactions such as "Pretty, so not guilty," "If it were me, I would have drunk the beverage right away," "She is truly a beauty. Her eyes are sharp yet beautiful," "The court should take her looks into account when sentencing," "Let's all set up a donation account," "Honestly, I don't really see what she did that was so wrong," and "If a woman like that suggested going to a motel first, I doubt even 1 out of 100 men would bother to refuse" continued to appear.

Kim has been detained on charges of handing drinks containing benzodiazepine-based drugs to three men in their twenties, resulting in the deaths of two of them. Her boyfriend, who was the target of the first offense, lost consciousness after drinking the beverage and was taken to the hospital, where he recovered. After that, she is believed to have committed a second and third offense using the same method. Both the second and third victims died.

The police have conducted a psychopathy assessment on Kim, and the results are expected to come out as early as later this week. Currently, the police, judging that there may be additional crimes, have launched a full-scale investigation into everyone who contacted Kim in a similar manner.

Comments defending the suspect in the 'Gangbuk motel drug death case'. Online community

In Japan, too, "the most beautiful criminal" draws attention

In Japan as well, the appearance of a suspect in a recent prostitution case in Ikebukuro, Tokyo has become a hot topic. On Japanese SNS, people are calling the suspect "the most beautiful criminal" and even using AI to create animations of her, in a phenomenon that glorifies her looks.

In this context, some observers analyze the situation as a manifestation of "Hybristophilia," a phenomenon of feeling attracted to criminals. "Hybristophilia" is a term describing a tendency to feel sexual or emotional attraction to, or to side with, individuals who have committed serious crimes, and it has been repeatedly observed in cases involving violent offenders such as serial killers. The main causes are said to involve a complex mix of factors, including fantasies about "saving" the criminal, a desire for fame, a preference for a strong partner, and the thrill felt in a dangerous relationship.

Concerns over "distortion of the essence of the case and secondary harm"

Experts point out that when the perpetrator's appearance and image are excessively consumed, the essence of the case can be distorted. They also stress that expressions that dilute or glorify the seriousness of the crime are highly likely to lead to secondary harm against the bereaved family and the victim. Experts say, "Both in crime reporting and in online discourse, a victim-centered perspective must be maintained," adding, "Sensational consumption surrounding the perpetrator can distort the essence of the case and dull society's sensitivity to such issues."

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