Suspect in Nowon-gu Three Women Murder Case is 24-Year-Old Kim Taehyun... Decision to Disclose Personal Information (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The identity of Kim Tae-hyun (24), who is accused of murdering three women in an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, was revealed on the 5th.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency disclosed Kim’s name, age, and photo on the same day. Kim was arrested on suspicion of murder for killing three women in an apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul.

The police held a personal information disclosure committee consisting of seven members, including three police officers and four external members, and decided to disclose Kim’s identity. The external members were selected from educators, lawyers, journalists, psychologists, doctors, and female crime experts.

The review committee considered factors such as ▲ the meticulous planning of the crime, including preparing necessary items in advance ▲ the serious outcome of sequentially killing all three victims ▲ sufficient evidence secured through crime tools collected at the scene, digital forensics, and the suspect’s confession ▲ the social unrest caused ▲ and the high public interest, including national petitions, and made this decision.

According to the current Act on the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes, disclosure of personal information is possible after a review committee decision when the crime method is brutal or the damage is severe, and the suspect’s crime is sufficiently proven. It also considers the public interest, such as guaranteeing the public’s right to know and preventing recidivism and crime.

Among suspects of violent crimes whose identities have been disclosed are Ko Yoo-jung, who killed her ex-husband; Ahn In-deuk, suspect in the Jinju apartment arson-murder case; Kim Sung-soo, suspect in the PC room murder case in Gangseo-gu, Seoul; Byun Kyung-seok, suspect in the karaoke customer dismemberment murder case; Kim Sung-kwan, suspect in the family murder case in Yongin; and Lee Young-hak, known as the “Tooth Father,” who sexually assaulted and killed his middle school daughter’s friend. Last year, the identities of suspects in the “Nth Room case” were also disclosed one after another.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim is accused of killing three women in an apartment in Junggye-dong, Nowon-gu, around 5:30 p.m. on the 23rd of last month. The police responded to a report from an acquaintance of the victims on the 25th, stating “I can’t reach my friend,” but when they arrived, the three women were already dead.

Before the police arrived, Kim attempted self-harm and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he underwent surgery and was hospitalized. After recovering to a level where communication was possible, he was arrested on the 2nd.

Kim reportedly admitted to the charges during his first police interrogation after arrest. He entered the house by impersonating a delivery worker and is believed to have killed the youngest daughter first, followed by the mother and the eldest daughter. Kim stated that he committed the crime out of resentment because the eldest daughter, whom he met through an online game, refused to meet him.

After the crime, Kim did not leave the apartment and attempted self-harm. The police also secured a statement from Kim that after self-harm, he was very thirsty and took alcohol and food from the refrigerator in the house.

Kim was interrogated by the police for two days and was detained the day before yesterday. The police continued questioning him from the morning of the day of the report. A profiler was also involved in the investigation for psychological analysis. If necessary, psychiatric evaluation and on-site verification will be conducted concurrently.

It is expected that Kim will be transferred to the prosecution in the latter half of the second week at the earliest. The police are likely to transfer Kim without covering his face with a hat or other items. His face is expected to be revealed to the media once again during this process.