Her Identity Already Exposed on SNS... Why Was the 'Gangbuk Motel Serial Killer' Revealed So Late?

Suspect Kim Soyoung in the 'Gangbuk Motel Serial Murders.' Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office

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There is growing criticism that the disclosure of the identity of Kim Soyoung (20), the suspect in the Gangbuk-gu motel serial murders in Seoul, was delayed. Despite Kim's identity already being exposed on social networking services (SNS) and various online communities, the police's official release came late.

According to police and other authorities on March 9, Kim is the seventh violent offender whose face and personal information were kept undisclosed during the police investigation stage but later released by the prosecutors.

The police reportedly decided not to disclose Kim's identity, judging that the case did not sufficiently meet the criteria for brutality of the crime method. Another factor considered was Kim's continued denial of intent to commit murder.

However, when the victims' families protested the police's decision, questioning, "Why is only the victim's death reported while the perpetrator's face remains hidden from the world?" public criticism intensified.

The growing outrage among citizens, fueled by continuing revelations of Kim's additional attempted offenses, is also cited as a reason why prosecutors moved swiftly to release her information. Kim is accused of handing drinks laced with drugs to victims, including men in their twenties, at motels in the Suyu-dong area of Gangbuk-gu last month, resulting in their deaths. Police investigations revealed that from December last year to February 8, she made two men drink beverages containing benzodiazepine-based drugs, causing their deaths and injuring one other person.

Kim, who was arrested and transferred to prosecutors on murder charges on February 19, stated during police questioning, "I carried medicine prescribed from a hospital mixed into a hangover remedy," and added, "I handed the hangover remedy to the victim to make him sleep after we had a disagreement. I didn't know he would die."

Nam Eunho, an attorney from Vincent Law Office representing the victims' families, said, "Although it was late, the disclosure of Kim Soyoung's identity is a welcome development for the families," but also added, "Since much of the truth has yet to be revealed, the public disclosure of her identity should not be the end of the investigation."

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