Jeju Oil Market Murder Case... Impulsive Crime or Meticulously Planned Crime? [Han Seung-gon's Case Notebook]

BJ Spends Money, Jeju Oil Market Murderer Claims "Accidental Crime"
Returns to Crime Scene to Hide Body
Bereaved Family Requests "Severe Punishment to Prevent Another Tragedy"
Expert: "Typical Planned Crime, Killed with Weapon When Resisted"

A man in his 20s, identified as A, who murdered a woman returning home after finishing work at a convenience store to cover living expenses in Jeju. The photo is a CCTV capture taken on the day of the incident, August 30th last month, showing A wearing a black mask and getting out of his own pickup truck. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Attention is focused on the background as the suspect, who was prosecuted for following and killing a woman returning home after working part-time at a convenience store and stealing cash, claims that his crime was accidental. During the police investigation, the perpetrator consistently insisted that it was an impulsive crime.

Because of this, there is also a view that the suspect is trying to receive lighter punishment by claiming it was a simple accidental crime rather than a planned murder during the trial. It is pointed out that this might be a prepared statement to secure a favorable position in sentencing conditions.

However, looking at the crime process, the suspect also shows signs of a planned crime, such as choosing the location and the victim. The bereaved family emphasized that it was a clear planned murder, citing the fact that the perpetrator prepared a weapon. Experts analyzed that the crime process indicates a meticulous planned crime.

◆ "I threatened and stabbed out of surprise" Claims of accidental crime

On the 22nd, the Jeju District Court's 2nd Criminal Division (Chief Judge Jang Chan-su) held the first trial for A (29), who was detained and indicted on charges of robbery-murder and attempted concealment of a corpse.

The court asked, "You threatened and followed the woman who fell into a nearby field and continued the crime. Did the young woman you saw for the first time look like she had a lot of money?"

A said, "I thought there was money in her bag and tried to steal it, and I had no intention to kill her. I threatened her with a weapon and stabbed her out of surprise."

He also claimed, "After killing her, I only took 10,000 won in cash from the bag, and when I revisited the scene later, the victim's phone rang, so I took it," adding, "The check card was together in the phone case."

The court decided to hold a second trial on November 16 to hear the bereaved family's statements.

On August 30, Mr. A, who was arrested by the police on suspicion of murdering a woman in her 30s near the Jeju City Folk Five-Day Market field, is being transferred from Jeju Dongbu Police Station to Jeju District Prosecutors' Office on the afternoon of the 10th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "Committed crime out of financial hardship" Denies connection to violent crime

On the 10th of last month, the Jeju Western Police Station sent Mr. Kang, suspected of robbery-murder, attempted concealment of a corpse, theft, and fraud, to the prosecution with a request for indictment.

During the police investigation, A emphasized that his crime was impulsive, saying, "I committed the crime out of financial hardship and had no plan."

According to the police, on August 30 at around 6:50 p.m., in a field near the Min-sok Oil Market in Dodoo 1-dong, Jeju City, the suspect identified the victim (39, female), followed her, stabbed her with a weapon, killed her, and fled after stealing 10,000 won in cash and a credit card.

It was later confirmed that the suspect used the stolen credit card to purchase food and beverages worth 100,000 won in two transactions at a convenience store and a mart.

At the time of the crime, the victim was returning home after finishing work at a nearby convenience store. Regarding the motive, the suspect claimed financial hardship and denied any connection to violent or planned crimes.

◆ Roaming in a van near the market and park... scouting for a target

However, contrary to his statements, A prepared for the crime. There are indications that he committed a planned crime by scouting for a target rather than a simple impulsive crime.

Having failed to pay rent for several months, A left his residence on the 28th of last month and decided to commit the crime. The scouting for a target was done from his own van. He lived in the van for three days, roaming near the oil market and parks, scouting for a victim.

Eventually, on August 30, after committing the crime, A returned to the crime scene at 12:17 a.m. on the 31st, about five hours later, attempting to move the corpse but failed, dreaming of a perfect crime. This cannot be seen as a simple crime.

The motive for the crime was not to raise money due to financial hardship but stemmed from a kind of leisure activity. Police investigations revealed that from December last year until recently, A spent all his money trying to win favor with several female internet broadcast BJs by sponsoring them.

A is known to have paid female BJs cyber money ranging from at least 100,000 won to as much as 2 million won. He even took out loans totaling 55 million won, including for vehicle loans, living expenses, and cyber money costs.

During the police investigation, A stated, "I worked in delivery from April to July but quit because the money was less than expected. I committed the crime due to financial hardship."

A police official said, "The suspect was completely immersed in a psychological state that only targeted money without any respect for human life. This was a heinous crime planned in advance with disregard for human life."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board Capture

The bereaved family also pointed out it was a planned murder through the Blue House National Petition Board on September 7. The petitioner, who identified himself as the victim's father, said, "The suspect owns a 1-ton van and did delivery work, but when work was scarce, he followed a woman who was walking home to save transportation costs and committed a terrible act," adding, "Since he killed with a weapon he had, it is clear that it was a planned murder."

He also emphasized, "Even if it wasn't my daughter, anyone passing through there could have become a victim. Please punish him severely to prevent such tragedies from happening again."

Experts' views are not different from the police. Oh Yoon-sung, a professor of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University, analyzed that it was a meticulous planned crime rather than a simple impulsive crime.

Professor Oh emphasized, "The concept of an impulsive crime means the time gap between deciding to commit the crime and the crime itself is very short." He pointed out, "However, A used his van to scout the crime location and targeted the victim."

Regarding the crime process, he analyzed, "He identified the victim and followed her. From this process, it can be seen as a planned crime. When the victim resisted, he killed her with the weapon he had. This is a typical planned crime."