Former Profiler: "Gangbuk Serial Murders Not Properly Investigated" vs. Prosecution: "Strong Response to Agitation"

“Strong Criticism Over Excessive Acceptance of Suspect’s Claims”
Prosecution: “Comprehensive Investigation Based on Various Analyses and Consultations”

Amid the investigation into the Gangbuk drug-fueled serial murder case, a former profiler strongly criticized certain aspects of the case, prompting the prosecution to draw a clear line, calling such remarks “agitation.”

The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office disclosed the personal information of Kim Soyoung (20), a suspect in the serial murder case in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, who is under investigation after being detained and sent to prosecution on charges including murder, special injury, and violation of the Narcotics Control Act. The disclosure was made following a review by the Personal Information Disclosure Deliberation Committee on the 9th. Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office

On the afternoon of the 13th, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office issued a press release addressing the claims made by Bae Sanghoon, former profiler and adjunct professor at the Department of Police Administration at Woosuk University, regarding the case.

The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office explained, “After receiving the case, we conducted an objective and comprehensive investigation based on expert analyses in criminal psychology, psychiatric and forensic consultations, and integrated psychological analysis by the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office’s Scientific Investigation Division.” The office further emphasized that Professor Bae’s claims were “sensational, provocative, and inconsistent with the facts,” and stated, “We will actively respond to assertions about the investigation that do not align with the facts.”

Previously, Professor Bae raised concerns about the investigation process and the methods of criminal psychological analysis in this case via a YouTube channel. He claimed that the investigative authorities were excessively accepting of suspect Kim Soyoung’s assertions, and he particularly criticized the prosecution for describing the suspect’s childhood environment as “family discord.”

Professor Bae explained, “If the suspect was continually exposed to a father’s alcoholic violence during childhood, that is not merely family discord but child abuse.” He added, “It is highly inappropriate to describe child abuse simply as family discord.” However, he also noted, “Not everyone who experiences abuse in childhood becomes a serial killer,” and pointed out, “Many people experience child abuse, but most do not become criminals; they are more likely to suffer from other forms of emotional issues.” He also commented that serial killers intentionally use a narrative of a “troubled childhood” to justify their crimes or seek reduced sentences.

He further criticized, saying, “Conducting an investigation by simply replicating the self-narrative of a criminal is so absurd, even a passing dog would laugh.” He also argued, “It is extremely dangerous to simply equate egocentric tendencies with psychopathic tendencies,” adding, “Such explanations may seem more like interpretations meant to fit a conclusion than scientific analysis.”

Meanwhile, Kim was sent into custody and transferred to the prosecution on February 19 on charges including murder and violation of the Narcotics Control Act, accused of causing men in their 20s and 30s to lose consciousness or die with psychotropic drugs at a motel in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, from mid-December last year to February 9. Kim admitted, “It is true that I mixed prescribed psychiatric medication into hangover remedies, carried them around, and handed them to men,” but claimed she did not know the victims would die. A prosecution official explained, “Considering the brutality of the crime and the gravity of the harm, we decided to disclose the information following a review by the committee.”

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