Did They Imitate 'Motel Killer' Kim Soyoung? Taekwondo Studio Director and Employee Used the 'Same Drug' in Plot to Kill Husband

"I crushed 60 tablets and put them in," suspect testifies
Husband did not drink the alcohol, attempt failed

It has been confirmed that the taekwondo studio employee and the head instructor, who attempted to murder a husband by spiking his alcohol with drugs, used a benzodiazepine-based drug—the same type of substance used by Kim Soyoung (age 20), the 'Gangbuk Motel Serial Killer.'

The suspect Kim Soyoung's public face (right) in the 'Gangbuk Motel Drug Incident' and a photo within an SNS account presumed to be hers. SNS capture

According to the Wonmi Police Station in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 9, the taekwondo head instructor, identified as Ms. A (a woman in her 20s), for whom an arrest warrant has been requested on charges of attempted murder, stated during a police investigation that she crushed 60 tablets of a benzodiazepine-based drug into powder and, through employee Ms. B (a woman in her 40s), put it into a 1.8-liter soju PET bottle.

Benzodiazepine. Screenshot from the Pharmaceutical Information Center

Previously, on April 25, Ms. A and Ms. B were accused of putting alcohol laced with the drug into the refrigerator at Ms. B’s home in Wonmi-gu, Bucheon, and attempting to murder Ms. B’s husband, Mr. C (a man in his 50s). They reportedly planned the crime, targeting the fact that Mr. C usually drank alone; however, it was found that Mr. C did not drink the alcohol.

Their crime came to light after Ms. A was arrested at the scene around 6:30 p.m. on May 6 for injuring Mr. C with a weapon at Ms. B’s residence (aggravated assault). During the subsequent police investigation, authorities discovered messages exchanged between Ms. A and Ms. B that indicated a murder plot, leading to Ms. B’s emergency arrest and both women being charged with attempted murder.

Benzodiazepine-based drugs are the same psychoactive substances used by Kim Soyoung to murder two men in their 20s from December last year. These drugs are prescribed to relieve insomnia and anxiety disorders. They are used to treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and muscle tension, but due to the risk of dependence and tolerance, caution is required.

Police plan to request a chemical analysis from the National Forensic Service to verify whether Ms. A and others actually used a benzodiazepine-based drug. In addition, future investigations will look into whether Ms. A and Ms. B committed a copycat crime imitating Kim Soyoung.

A police official stated, "So far, the only evidence regarding the drug used in the crime is the suspects’ statements. It has not yet been confirmed whether a benzodiazepine-based substance was actually used." The official added, "The circumstances under which the suspects obtained the drugs and whether this was a copycat crime have not yet been investigated."

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