"The Devil Hidden Behind an Attractive Appearance"... Lawyer Outraged at Kim Soyoung in 'Motel Serial Murders' Case

The family of Kim Soyoung (age 20), the suspect in the Gangbuk Motel Serial Murders, has expressed anger over the meticulous planning behind her crimes.

The disclosed face of suspect Kim Soyoung (right) in the "Gangbuk Motel Drug Incident" and photos presumed to be from Kim's social media account. Online community

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Nam Eunho, the head attorney at Vincent Law Office and the family's legal representative, wrote on his social media account on the 11th, "Suspect Kim always lured the victims with her attractive appearance and gentle tone," adding, "She asked artificial intelligence (AI) about methods of murder and experimented by more than doubling the dosage [of drugs] for the killings." He went on to say, "We are witnessing in real time the demon hidden behind an appealing appearance," expressing his outrage.

He further stated, "Kim Soyoung repeatedly baited the victims by mentioning she struggled with hangovers," and, "Typically, a hangover cure is a kind gift given in good faith. The victims had no reason to doubt her intentions." He added, "The result of a 10,000 won hangover remedy was death," and emphasized, "At this point, I find this method of murder even more cruel."

Meanwhile, there are claims that the second death could have been prevented if the police had conducted a more thorough initial investigation. Attorney Nam argued, "The police postponed the investigation date, citing the need for results from the National Forensic Service, and exactly on that day, the second victim was murdered," adding, "In the case of the second death, someone who should not have died lost their life."

Suspect Kim Soyoung in the 'Gangbuk Motel Serial Murders'. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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Kim is accused of causing the deaths of two men in their twenties, whom she met online, by making them drink beverages laced with sleeping pills between December last year and February this year, as well as leaving another man unconscious. On the 9th, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office convened a review committee for the disclosure of personal information and released Kim's name, age, and face. On the 10th, Kim was indicted and detained on charges of murder, special injury, and violation of the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances), among others.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim scored 25 out of 40 on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), which classifies her as having psychopathic tendencies. The psychopathy assessment quantifies personality traits such as callousness, impulsivity, lack of empathy, and irresponsibility. It consists of 20 items, with a maximum score of 40. Generally, a score of 25 or higher is classified as psychopathic. The average score for the general population is about 15.

Previously, during police questioning, Kim reportedly admitted, "It is true that I mixed prescribed psychiatric medication into hangover cures and carried them around to give to men," but claimed that she did not expect the victims to die.

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